Incubation of turkeys: table of terms and temperatures, breeding at home

Home turkey breeding justifies the cost in a short time. This is due to the fact that the bird is able to quickly gain weight, give up to 80 percent of the meat yield after slaughter and does not require special conditions. At home, as well as on an industrial scale, turkeys are bred using targeted incubation. The hatching mechanism allows you to make an accurate forecast of the future livestock with a high degree of probability.

Pros and cons

Despite the fact that turkeys are prone to hatching, in many cases breeders prefer to use incubators. This gives high results and eliminates unexpected developments.

Turkey incubation has pros and cons.

Pros and consobtaining a large generation of turkeys;with mechanical incubation, the breeder spends less effort on controlling the process;the type of convector can be selected, focusing on requests and needs.in devices that do not provide an independent power source, with a sudden power outage, there is a high probability of egg death;devices require special disinfection treatment.

Help! Universal breed for laying in an incubator - hybrid breed converter.

How to choose a breed of birds for incubation

Beginning farmers are faced with the problem of choosing a breed that is suitable for bookmarking. In many cases, breeders want turkeys that are categorized in a particular line, such as meat, egg, or meat-and-egg. To choose a breed, you need to focus on the main characteristics of universal species:

1. North Caucasian bronze. Individuals with average, but stable, productivity indicators. Females reach 8 kilograms, males weigh about 15 kilograms. Turkey lays up to 80 eggs.
2. Broad chested bronze. Weight ranges from 10 to 12 kilograms. Turkeys lay up to 100 eggs annually. The breed belongs to the meat line, individuals are taken away for slaughter when they reach 6 months of age.
3. Versatiles. From them you can get up to 80 eggs annually, they are distinguished and valued for their rapid weight gain, when slaughtered they give up to 80 percent of the meat of the total mass.
4. White Moscow. The breed is highly productive. The weight of turkeys reaches 16 kilograms, the weight of turkeys - 8 kilograms. Females lay 80 eggs annually.

Attention! In addition to the characteristics of the breed, breeders recommend paying attention to the he alth of the selected turkey.

Features of incubators for hatching poults

Apparatus for breeding birds are divided by type of work:

1. Type of heating. Devices with an upper type of heating suggest maximum proximity to natural conditions. Bottom heating involves air supply from below, this type of apparatus allows you to reduce energy costs.
2. Turning eggs. Uneven heating leads to the loss of livestock, so the eggs are turned over during incubation. Devices with a mechanical overturn activate the mode after pressing a button or lever. Automatic incubators are designed so that the coup takes place at certain intervals, without the participation of the controller. Apparatuses that involve manual overturning are equipped with special openings, with the help of which it is possible to perform overturning without loss of heat and humidity inside the apparatus.
3. Production volume. According to this criterion, incubators are divided into industrial, farm and home.

Preparation of eggs and rules for their storage

Eggs are selected according to the position of the yolk inside the shell. A good option for checking the viability of the embryo is candling. When translucent, the yolk should be in the center of the egg. If you turn it over, then the yolk will move from the central position, and then return back. If the capillary system is broken, bloody blotches will be visible during transillumination, such specimens must be rejected.

Eggs before laying can be stored no more than 10 days. The longer the storage period, the lower the hatchability of chicks. During storage, the material must be turned over on the other side, while washing or processing the shell is prohibited.

Specially selected eggs are used for bookmarking. Rules for preparing hatching eggs:

• during the day before laying the material is heated to room temperature;
• dirt from the surface is cleaned with a solution of manganese or peroxide;
• Eggs are additionally marked so that in the future it will be clear which egg is upside down and which is not.

At the same time, as many eggs are laid in the incubator as it enters the compartment. Damaged, cracked and soft eggs are subject to rejection.

Attention! Turkey eggs have a strong shell, which allows you to hatch up to 90 percent of the chicks from the bookmark.

Incubator preparation

The incubator is prepared in advance. 1 day before laying the device is thoroughly washed, disinfected with special means.Then fill the container intended for this with clean water. 12 hours before laying the apparatus is heated to 38-38.4 degrees. At the same time, the humidity indicator should show a level equal to 60-65 percent.

Egg laying

Prepared eggs are placed in the incubator according to the type of machine. This helps to bring out the maximum number of chicks. For the automatic type of machine, a vertical type tab is provided. The sharp end of the egg should look down. With mechanical or manual turning, the material is laid horizontally.

Stages of embryonic development

Farm owners are advised to familiarize themselves with the stages of embryo development in advance in order to have an idea of what processes take place inside the incubator at different stages of the hatching process.

First weekFormation of the circulatory system.During this period, it is especially important to turn the egg in a timely manner. Third week From Day 25

Period	Stage description
Shaping paws, beak
Beak hardening

Translucent at different stages at home

Transillumination helps to reject unviable specimens in time. At the initial stage of the second stage, the first rejection is carried out. When a living embryo is translucent, a light spot can be seen, a dead embryo is distinguished by a dark spot. The third week suggests that at this time the contour of the embryo becomes clear. During the last stage, movements are visible inside the egg when translucent. If no movements are observed, then this indicates the death of the embryo.

Table of modes for the entire period of incubation

When incubating, it is important to observe temperature and humidity indicators. After mating, the turkey lays an egg and stores it at a temperature of at least 38 degrees. The same conditions must be provided during incubation.

Table:

Stage	Temperature	Humidity
1	38-38,3	65
2	37,7-38	40- 45
3	37.5-38	60-65
4	not lower than 37	65-70

The first days of incubation require maintaining an elevated temperature. This is due to the fact that the embryo needs to be activated, to “push” it to growth and development. After starting the process, elevated temperature is not required, the embryo begins to develop naturally, receiving the necessary vitamins and minerals inside the shell. At this time, ventilation becomes an important step. This is due to the development of the respiratory system and the need to obtain oxygen.

After the start of pipping, the air temperature is artificially reduced so that the chick gradually gets used to the conditions in which it has to adapt. The increase in humidity during this period is associated with preventing drying out.

Terms and features of the process

The incubation process takes 28-32 days. The first pecks appear on the shell 25-27 days after laying. After pecking, the eggs stop turning. To ensure uniform appearance, the air temperature is raised to the maximum level allowed for the period and the maximum supply of oxygen is ensured. Then the air temperature is gradually reduced.

Chick hatches in 10 hours. There are cases where it takes 20 hours. The first 10 hours do not help the turkey, he must peck the shell on his own. If it is difficult for the chick to break through the shell after 20 hours, he is helped to do this in any convenient way.The turkey is then left in place to dry completely. After complete drying, the turkeys are transferred to specially prepared boxes with additional illumination.

Hatching and aftercare of poults

Emerged turkey poults require careful care. For 9 weeks, the chicks are kept at elevated air temperatures with additional illumination and full feeding. Chicks are taught to eat and drink in a variety of ways. For example, boiled protein and yolk are crumbled on top of the chicks so that they reflexively open their beaks and grab food. Drinking is given to each chick by dipping its beak into a bowl of water. The nutrition of turkeys is organized with the inclusion of the following items: cottage cheese, boiled eggs, millet, corn grits. After 10 days, nettle and dandelion leaves are added to food. After 14 days, boiled meat offal is added to the diet.

Information! Dandelion and nettle are crushed with a knife to be introduced into the diet.

Possible beginner mistakes

During the incubation, mistakes can be made that lead to the death of the embryos. Typical mistakes relate to setting temperature and humidity modes.

Excessive heating of the material provokes the death of embryos or the hatching of underdeveloped chicks. Excessive warming is indicated by early pipping and an uneven process that stretches for several days. Insufficient warming leads to late hatching of chicks. Such turkeys have weak, almost motionless limbs, it is difficult for them to adapt to the conditions of detention. Many chicks die after a few days.

Dry air with a lack of moisture leads to early hatching, but the density of the shell does not allow weak chicks to break out, many of them die.

The way to prevent these problems is to carefully control temperature and humidity, as well as the purchase of modern incubators with automatic control.

Co-incubation with chicken eggs

When breeding at home, farmers often lay eggs of different birds together: ducks, chickens, turkeys. In this case, the bookmark is made in stages. When incubating turkey poults and chickens, the timing of hatching is taken into account.

The average incubation period for chickens is 21-23 days and for turkeys 28-30 days. This means that chicken eggs are laid 5-7 days after laying turkey eggs. Experienced breeders advise to transfer eggs to another incubator 2 days before the expected hatching of the chicks.

Recommended