Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
start to pip at about day 25. If everything proceeds smoothly, they will be out and dry by
day 27, just when some of the other breeds are starting to pip.
Ducks take a little longer to get out of the shell than do chickens so do not be alarmed.
Refrain from opening and shutting the incubator every few hours to check on them.
After you place the eggs in the hatcher, it's best not to open the incubator more than
once a day. Once they've begun to pip, it's tempting to “help” them out, but let nature
take its course, be patient, and allow them to emerge on their own.
Turkeys
are not particularly tolerant of varying conditions during incubation and
hatching. From early incubation, the lower the humidity, the better for these birds. In the
final few days, however, once moved to the hatcher, it's crucial to bring up the humid-
ity level. Turkeys hatch best if they complete the pipping of their hard shell in about 18
hours. If the process stretches on too long, they die in the shell.
Too humid: Slow to hatch, sticky chick, weak; does not dry fluffy
