In my experience, turkey eggs are some of the easiest poultry to hatch–even if youre a beginner. In this article, Im going to walk you step-by-step through the method Ive used to repeatedly achieve 100% hatch rates, using small tabletop incubators. Photo Credit: Salt in My Coffee.
Ive been hearing from a lot of fellow homesteaders lately, that theyre finding turkey eggs especially hard to hatch. Watching a broody hen hatch out a fluffy little brood can be especially heartwarming, but females of any poultry species arent always broody when you need them to be, and sometimes you really do need to be able to reliably hatch out eggs yourself!
Im hoping this post might help anybody who wants to confidently and successfully hatch their own turkey poults, using an incubator. Its so much fun, and so rewarding! Photo Credit: Salt in My Coffee.
This post is going to be a longer one, because I want to be thorough, and am going to talk the whole process through, right from the beginning. If youd just like to quickly get the temperature and incubator humidity settings, please feel free to tap that “jump to” button below, and it will take you right to the printable cheat sheet.
For the rest of you, lets start at the very beginning. Photo Credit: Salt in My Coffee.
If youre hatching turkey eggs, theyre going to come from one of two places: your flock, or someone elses flock. If youre looking to hatch eggs from your own flock, you definitely have an advantage of being able to control the feed and living conditions of your mother hen, as well as the way you handle the eggs once you gather them.
Candling turkey eggs during incubation is an important step for monitoring embryo development and identifying infertile eggs But knowing when to start candling can be confusing, especially for first-time turkey breeders. This comprehensive guide provides tips on optimal candling frequency for turkey eggs to improve hatch rates
What is Egg Candling?
Candling is the process of shining a bright light through an egg to observe the inside. It allows you to monitor growth and check for problems during incubation without cracking the egg open.
In the past, candle flames were used to provide the light source, hence the name. Nowadays, bright LED flashlights or special egg candling devices are used. The light illuminates the inside of the egg, making the embryo and blood vessels visible.
Clear infertile eggs look empty inside. Fertile eggs will show a network of veins and the embryo itself as it develops. Candling lets you identify and remove infertile eggs to maximize hatch rates.
When to Start Candling Turkey Eggs
Most sources recommend waiting until day 10-14 to begin candling turkey eggs. Here’s why:
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Turkey embryos develop slower than chickens due to the longer 28 day incubation period. In the first week, the embryo is too small to see clearly.
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Candling too early risks stopping development. Excess handling and light exposure can harm the delicate embryo.
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Turkey eggs have thicker shells and pigments than chicken eggs. It’s harder to see inside early on.
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Candling in the first week is usually futile. The embryo likely won’t be visible and it adds unnecessary risks. Let the eggs settle the first week before candling.
Candling Frequency
While the first candling can wait until days 10-14, how often should you candle after that? Here are some general guidelines:
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Candle again on day 21 to check embryo size and movement. Discard any eggs that don’t show signs of development.
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Candle every 3-4 days in between the first and second candling. This allows you to monitor growth while minimizing disturbances.
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Avoid candling excessively. No more than 2-3 times a week. The less the better.
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Stop candling 2-3 days before the expected hatch date. Late stage embryos are extremely fragile.
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Adjust as needed based on what you see upon candling. If an egg shows no veins by day 14, discard it. If embryos appear small or still on day 21, increase candling frequency to monitor for issues.
Candling Tips
Follow these tips for safe, effective candling:
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Use a bright narrow beam LED flashlight or egg candler. The brighter the light, the easier it will be to see inside the egg.
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Candle eggs in a dark room away from other light sources. This makes it easiest to see inside the egg.
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Hold the large end upwards and shine light against the side of the egg, not on top of the air cell. This provides the clearest view of the embryo.
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Don’t keep eggs out of the incubator for long. Return them quickly after candling to avoid cooling.
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Rotate eggs before and after to prevent them from sticking. Don’t rotate eggs right before candling.
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Sanitize hands or wear gloves and avoid touching the shell with fingers. Oils can block pores.
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Mark eggs with an X after candling so you know which have been checked.
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Remove eggs gently if discarding. Infertile eggs can still hatch chicks if incubated full term.
What to Look for When Candling
It takes some practice to become skilled at candling. Here’s what to look for at different stages:
Early Stage (Days 10-14)
- Network of veins visible radiating from center
- Small dark embryo spot on outer edge of yolk
- Enlargement or clouding of air cell at large end
Mid Development (Days 15-21)
- Embryo clearly visible, growing in size
- Increased vascularity, veins cover more area
- Air cell larger
- Head, eyes, beak may be distinguishable
Late Stage (Days 22-27)
- Embryo occupies most of the egg, moving position
- Embryonic feathers visible as speckles or stripes
- Air cell very large
- Network of vessels obvious
What’s Normal
- Slow growth in first 10 days
- Subtle changes from day to day
- Veins and embryo in expected positions
Potential Problems
- No veins or embryo visible
- Embryo appears malformed or incorrectly positioned
- Small or slow-growing embryo
- Blood vessels deteriorating or pulling away from shell
- Air cell irregularly shaped or sized
Benefits of Candling Turkey Eggs
Candling provides valuable information that can lead to better turkey egg hatch rates:
- Identify infertile and non-viable eggs for early removal
- Monitor normal growth and development at each incubation stage
- Detect problems like slowed growth or malpositioned embryos
- Determine actual hatch date based on progression
- Evaluate fertility of your turkey breeders
Removing infertile eggs allows the incubator to focus heat and humidity on the viable eggs. And identifying issues early on gives you the best chance to remedy problems.
While not absolutely necessary, candling can improve your turkey hatching success when done properly. Following these guidelines will allow you to candle effectively at the ideal times without unnecessary risks.
Through routine candling, you can gain fascinating insights into the miracle happening inside those turkey eggs. This knowledge helps set your poults up for a healthy hatch and start to life on your homestead.
Embryo: 12
Turkey: 8
Egg: 22
Candling: 15
Incubation: 7
Should you help a turkey poult hatch?
Usually a poult will hatch just fine on its own. Its very easy to do more harm than good when helping poultry of any kind to hatch.
If youre concerned about whether your poults are progressing adequately, start by double checking your temperature and humidity levels. Is the temperature no higher than 98.5? Is the humidity no higher than 65%? If the answer is no to either of those questions, Id encourage you to fix that first.
If its been more than 24 hours since the poult broke through the shell, or if its been more than 8 hours since it made any progress after having begun to zip, I might start to consider whether assistance might be necessary.
If you do feel like you might need to intervene, begin by chipping through both the outer shell and the inside membrane, just a tiny bit at a time. Try widening the existing hole in the shell just a little bit on each side, helping to get a “zip line” going around the circumference of the shell.
If at any point you see blood, immediately put the egg back in the incubator, and wait at least half an hour before trying again. Sometimes, just a little bit of help is enough to get a baby “unstuck” and making progress again.
One of the most important things to keep in mind if you do help, is that you dont want to chip off pieces of the outer shell, while leaving the membrane underneath in tact. This exposes the membrane to the air, which allows it to harden, and turn leather-like…trapping the poult in the shell.
What temperature should the incubator be for turkey eggs?
99.5°F, just like chicken eggs.
Cal Roberts of Roberts Farm was the original person behind the Hatchaholics Anonymous group on facebook, and is a hatching guru. He suggests starting out at 100.5° for the first three days, and this is perfectly safe and not a bad method. However, Cal is also the first to remind everyone that finding what works in your own micro-climate is a big part of having consistent 100% hatch rates, and for me, here in Maine, I find that maintaining the incubator at 99.5 from setting until lockdown has been ideal.
This guidance is for a circulated-air incubator with a fan, which is always the best way to go, if you possibly can. If you must use a still air incubator, make sure that youre monitoring the temperature at the level of the top of the eggs, and increase your target temperature by one degree.
Candling The Turkey Eggs!
FAQ
How long can you keep turkey eggs before incubating?
Some turkey eggs will survive for 4 weeks, but quail will have difficulty developing from eggs stored longer than 2 weeks.
Is 80% humidity too high for hatching eggs?
Humidity should be around 50% during incubation and closer to 65-75 percent during the hatch process. Keep in mind that too much humidity isn’t good either.Feb 9, 2023
When should eggs be candled?
Make sure you’re candling on the right day. Some people candle as frequently as days 7, 14, and 18. However, I’ve found that days 10 and 18 are the most useful and result in the best hatch.
When should you candle turkey eggs?
Candling your turkey eggs on the 7th day of incubation is an important part of the process. It will help you determine whether or not your eggs are viable and allows you to discard non-viable eggs before they become a health risk. More on candling turkey eggs later in this article. Keep Reading: Why don’t we eat turkey eggs?
How long after turning eggs can you candle a chick?
You can candle again after 14 days but not after you’ve stopped turning your eggs during the last few days before they hatch. We finish rotating chicken eggs at 18 days and duck eggs at 25 days. After this time, the chick is positioning itself, ready to emerge.
How long after incubation should a duck egg be candled?
The last few days of incubation are also not recommended for candling since the chick moves into position to hatch. I recommend candling chicken and duck eggs after 7 days of incubation and again at 14 days. After a week of incubation, you can be reasonably precise about the viability of the embryo.
How do you candle a turkey egg?
You can candle your turkey eggs starting around day five or six. The shell of a turkey egg is pretty thick, and it can be difficult to see what’s going on. To candle, move into a dark room and hold a flashlight at the bottom of the egg so the light glows through. You should be able to see the hint of veins spreading across the eggshell.
Do turkey eggs need to be cooled before incubation?
Unlike chickens or ducks, your incubator temperature does not need to be reduced for turkeys. Candling your turkey eggs on the 7th day of incubation is an important part of the process. It will help you determine whether or not your eggs are viable and allows you to discard non-viable eggs before they become a health risk.
How do you candle eggs of birds?
Candling can be done with a special candling light or even a flashlight. The light allows you to see the shadows of the embryo inside the eggshell. Various devices are built or designed specifically for candling eggs of birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and quails.