I am thinking of maybe buying an incubator....noticed that some mention that the egg turner is not included. Do I really need the turner or can I turn manually? But then again, I could use one of my bantams...Just thinking again. :-)

-- Cheri in NY (t.asprion@worldnet.att.net), February 28, 2002

Answers

Cheri, we have used incubators for many years without an egg turner and had good results.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 28, 2002.

It depends on the person, if you are going to be able to turn your eggs every day at the same time and can remember to do so then you can do without a turner, but if you forget or aren't always able to do it on schedule then a turner would be a good thing. My results with and without the turner were about the same. I did prefer to use the turner because I have a really bad memory.

-- j willis (jwillis@louish.com), February 28, 2002.

I have hatched for 30 years. I do not use a turner. I lay the eggs on their sides and roll them around 2 times a day with a very clean HAND.

YOU DO WANT A FAN FORCED AIR incubator. That is the biggest mistake that a beginner makes. A still air inc. gets HOT spots and a fan forced model circulates the air.

-- bonnie in indiana (queqid@att.net), February 28, 2002.

Cheri, I like to use a turner on an incubator. As the embryo grows, it creates waste products. Turning the egg stimulates the embryo, and moves it away from the toxins. A banty hen will turn her eggs up to 97 times an hour. And you thought she was just sitting there! She is working hard. I have a roll-x, with a clear top, and an automatic turner. It turns once an hour, unless you want to push the button for more turning, and the clear plastic top allows you to check on hatching without having to lift the lid and lose all that good humidity. I am VERY happy with its performance, and it's easy to clean, also.

-- Judy in IN (whileaway3@cs.com), March 01, 2002.

WE'VE HATCHED CHICKEN AND DUCKS FOR YEARS AND NEVER USED A EGG TURNER. GARY AND PRIS----MOUNTAINS ASHE ACRES FARM--UPSTATE,NY

-- Gary and Pris (MTASHEACRES@AOL.COM), March 01, 2002.

So Cheri........are you sufficiently confused?? As you see, this is a forum with varying advice, all well intended. Want even more?? Scroll down the page to the archives and look under Poultry/equipment and there are tons of offerings on this subject. Research has been done at the university level, with disagreeing results. One paper was written and an article in the CS magazine sited it regarding not even turning the eggs at all. Good luck to you, no matter what you chose to do.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), March 01, 2002.

I've used incubators with great success and didn't use an egg turner. I keep track of the "turnings", usually done twice a day, by writing AM on one side of the egg, and PM on the other side of the egg. This way I could easily look and see if I had forgotten to turn them and this assured I was turning them completely....I always get mesmerized while watching the first chick start to hatch...it is so cool....Good Luck!

-- Harmony (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), March 01, 2002.

Don't want to add to your confusion, just wanted to add my opinion...I wont hatch without one, now. I work full time, and have 3 children, meetings after work, etc. Without the egg turner, I am sure I wouldn't have the hatch rates I get. I simply do not have the time to turn the eggs several times a day, certainly couldn't be consistant about the times when I could turn them, and frankly, I don't like to feel guilty that I didn't do it for several days, now those chiks might not have a chance.

I think it's worth the extra $$ for a little peice of mind.

-- Wendy A (phillips-anteswe@pendleton.usmc.mil), March 01, 2002.

C, if you access to any incubator,buy it:-] it is natures best hobby:-] utterly fascitnating:-] fun for all:-] don't spend money on one incubator,buy two,since you are saving price of egg turner,just help yourself when they hatch. the use of 2nd incubator keeps almost ready to hatch in one incubator,keeping other for turning,cleaner hatches good luck:-]

-- Dusty Ross (ourpinkroses@yahoo.com), March 11, 2002.