-by Jennifer Sartell Ideally, I wanted our hen to hatch out a brood of baby turkeys and raise them herself. But in the past two springs, our turkey hens have proven to be lacking in the maternal instinct department. This year, I was determined to hatch some turkey poults, even if it meant using an incubator. I’ve been calling them our “backup” eggs because, in the past, our turkey hens have been spotty with their nesting habits and have failed to hatch out any poults. The ironic thing is, this year, we’ve decided to hatch some of our own baby turkeys, and it seems like our hens are more diligent than ever. So we might end up with a lot of turkeys! Throughout this process, many people have asked questions about hatching baby turkeys, and I’ve picked up a common theme from reader comments that there isn’t a lot of information out there on breeding and hatching baby turkeys. This makes sense as most of the turkeys in the U.S. are artificially inseminated in factory farms. Backyard turkey rearing hasn’t caught on as well as chickens. Some reasons for that might be that turkeys need more space to raise, they’re harder to find (you don’t see them for sale at every feed store in the spring), and they’re not usually raised for egg production.
Turkeys are a different kind of commitment than chickens. While they do lay edible eggs, turkeys haven’t been bred generation after generation to produce eggs the way domesticated chickens have. In my experience, turkeys will lay really heavily throughout the spring, and then production sort of dwindles throughout the summer and into fall. We decided to incubate turkey eggs in much the same way that we hatch out chicks. So, if you’re familiar with that process you should do great with turkeys.
We started with nine turkeys from our original flock. That year, we processed five, leaving the biggest and best-looking tom and four of our best-looking hens. These are our breeding stock. To help you select your breeding pair, learn about what your breed should look like. Visit poultry shows and study the first-place winners. Sometimes, the judges leave comments on the cages which can be very insightful. Otherwise, choose the most healthy and vibrant pair from your stock.
Turkey eggs typically take 28 days to hatch. This 28 day incubation period is longer than for chicken eggs, which usually hatch in 21 days. Here’s a closer look at what’s involved in incubating and hatching turkey eggs.
Turkey Egg Incubation Period
The incubation period for turkey eggs is 28 days on average. This 28 day timeframe is measured from when the eggs are set in the incubator to when the poults pip and fully emerge from their shells.
During this 4 week incubation window, the developing embryos inside the eggs undergo tremendous growth and change. Monitoring temperature, humidity, ventilation, and other parameters is essential to ensure the poults hatch healthy and strong.
Factors That Influence Incubation Time
While 28 days is the standard incubation period, there are a few factors that can slightly shorten or lengthen the hatch timeline:
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Breed – Different turkey breeds have slightly varying incubation needs For example, Heritage turkeys may hatch in 30 days.
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Egg Storage – Storing eggs before incubation typically adds time Plan for 1 extra hour per day stored
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Incubation Conditions – Temperature or humidity issues can delay poults from hatching on time.
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Individual Egg Differences – Some poults may pip early or late compared to siblings from the same clutch
As long as incubator conditions are ideal, most poults should emerge right around day 28. Monitoring incubation progress carefully allows you to identify any potential problems.
What Happens During Turkey Egg Incubation
A lot happens inside those turkey eggs over 28 days! Here’s an overview of turkey embryo development during incubation:
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Days 1-7 – The embryo begins forming. A heartbeat is detectable around day 3.
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Days 8-14 – Major organ development occurs. Feathers begin growing around day 12. The embryo moves into hatching position.
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Days 15-21 – The turkey continues to grow inside the egg, filling most of the interior. Eyes open around day 20-21.
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Days 22-28 – The poult prepares to hatch, drawing yolk into its body. Pipping starts around day 28.
Hatching Signs
As you near day 28, watch for these signs that hatching is imminent:
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Cracks or chips in the egg as poults start pipping internally
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Tapping or peeping sounds coming from the eggs
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Eggs rocking back and forth as poults prepare to fully emerge
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Cracks widening as the shell is pushed outward during hatching
Once poults have fully emerged, leave them to rest and dry off before removing them to the brooder.
Ensuring a Successful Hatch
To help your turkey eggs hatch healthy poults on schedule:
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Incubate eggs at 99.5°F and 55-60% humidity
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Turn eggs at least 3 times per day until day 25
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Weigh eggs periodically to track moisture loss
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Candle eggs starting on day 5 to check development
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Monitor incubator conditions with a thermometer and hygrometer
With proper incubation care, your turkey eggs should pip right on time around day 28 and reward you with a hatch of healthy poults!
Preparing for the hatching of turkey poults
On day 26, stop rotating the eggs and double the humidity. On our Brinsea Mini Advanced, the eggs stop turning automatically and we add water to the second chamber in the center of the incubator. On this day, I also like to get our brooder ready. Get the feeders and waterers washed, and get the temperature regulated using a thermometer. You want it between 95 to 100 degrees F.
Laying and Egg Fertility
Our turkey hens started laying their second spring. They were about 10 months to a year when we first started seeing eggs. We raise heritage Black Spanish turkeys. It takes these heritage breeds a little longer to fully mature.
Our birds breed naturally, without the use of artificial insemination. Once the hen is laying, there’s a good chance that your male is old enough to start doing his part. Our turkeys are very discrete, and I rarely see them mate but try to get a visual of the deed being done. Make sure they’ve worked things out and that the male has mastered his form. Sometimes things can be clumsy in the beginning, and you want a secure mating pattern to ensure fertile eggs. After the hen is mated, she’ll lay fertile eggs for up to 10 days. The further out from the conception date, the lower the chance of fertility. If your tom is mating with your hens regularly, then eggs can be collected with consistent fertility. Wash your hands thoroughly before you handle eggs as the oils in your skin can block the invisible pores on the outside of the eggshell. Keep the nesting box clean so you have a better chance of collecting clean eggs. Clean eggs hatch better because debris blocks the pores of an egg, and it can also be a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, especially in a warm, moist incubator. If your egg is soiled and you don’t have the option to swap it for a clean one, let the area dry and then brush off what you can with a dry, stiff bristle brush. Eggs should be collected daily and stored pointed-end-down in temperatures between 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. A cool, dry place like a basement works well. Once you have a nice clutch collected, the eggs can go into the incubator at the same time. This works best because you can treat all the eggs with the same processes as incubation progresses, and all your poults will hatch on roughly the same day.
They’re HATCHING!! Our Turkey’s FIRST EGGS are starting to hatch!
FAQ
How long does it take for turkey eggs to hatch naturally?
After 25 days, the eggs will start to hatch. To start with, there will be just a faint pip noise. This is the time to adjust the temperature to 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) and up the humidity to 75%. By Day 28, the turkeys should have broken free from their shells and will dry out into little puffballs.
How long do turkeys sit in eggs?
In between laying eggs, the hen will focus on feeding and bulking up to withstand the upcoming incubation period. Once all the eggs have been laid, the hen will incubate them, day and night, for about 28 days.
What day is lockdown for turkey eggs?
Step 5: Lockdown, Days 26-28
We call these final 3 days “lockdown” because you will not open the incubator until after all poults have hatched and dried off. On day 26 of the incubation period, you should stop turning the eggs by hand or turn off and remove eggs from the automatic turner.
Why are my turkey eggs not hatching?
Your humidity is way too high during incubation. I incubate turkey eggs at about 35% humidity. I lock down at 65% to 70% humidity. Forget about what you think the humidity should be and go back to the tried and proven method of either weighing the eggs or marking the air cell.
How long do turkey eggs take to hatch?
Turkey eggs take 28 days to hatch. Hence, the incubation period for turkey eggs is 28 days. The eggs, however, should be kept at 99.5 o F or 37.5 o C and 55-60% relative humidity (RH). Only fertile eggs can develop and hatch.
How long should you wait for a Turkey to hatch?
Wait 3 more days without turning the eggs for the turkeys to hatch. The turkeys will be in hatching position during this time, so don’t move the eggs at all. Watch the eggs for cracks. Puffy little turkeys will come out healthy and dry on the 28th day.
How long does a turkey egg last?
If you place your eggs in storage, you should add one hour for each day that the egg is stored. Therefore, when hatching turkey eggs, the normal incubation period lasts 28 days. If the egg has been in storage, say, for two days, then the incubation period would last 28 days and two hours.
When do Turkey chicks hatch?
Once she has begun to sit on the eggs, the turkey chicks will hatch after about 28 days. You don’t need to do anything to help, though it may be a kindness to offer a food and water source close to where the turkey has nested.
Where can I buy turkey hatching eggs?
To order turkey hatching eggs, shop the Meyer Hatchery website. Hatching turkey eggs in an incubator is similar to hatching chicken eggs but with a few notable differences. Let’s take a quick look at what you’ll need to know. The first difference is the need for larger turning rails or trays to accommodate the larger turkey eggs.
What is a turkey egg incubation chart?
This turkey egg incubation chart has been designed for anyone who wants to hatch their turkey eggs at home. This incubation chart shows the ideal temperature, humidity, and turning frequency for each day of incubation. It also includes some tips for a successful hatch. You can download the chart as a PDF file or print it.