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.
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.
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:
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Identify infertile and non-viable eggs for early removal
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Monitor normal growth and development at each incubation stage
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Detect problems like slowed growth or malpositioned embryos
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Determine actual hatch date based on progression
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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.
Once the poults are hatched
If you can, its generally best to wait and take all of the poults out of the incubator at once, after the hatch is complete. Wait until theyre dry and well fluffed out, and then theyre ready to move to the brooder.
If you have a long gap between hatching, and the first babies are dry and active while a few are still working on hatching, its ok to quickly open the incubator to remove the babies that are ready, while allowing the others to continue hatching.
(Finally) setting the eggs
With the incubator set up, and the temperature and humidity stable and correct,its just about time to go ahead and set the eggs!
If youve been storing them in a cool place, bring them out and let them rest for a couple of hours until they reach room temperature, and no longer feel cool to the touch.
Because youll need to be turning them three times a day, its a great idea to mark them with a soft pencil on one side, so that you can easily tell which ones youve turned.
Once the eggs are marked, and at room temperature, go ahead and put them in the incubator!
Candling The Turkey Eggs
FAQ
How long can turkey eggs sit out before incubating?
What day do you start candling eggs?
How to tell if turkey eggs are still alive?
Can you candle eggs on day 2?
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 long does it take to candle a Turkey embryo?
And here is a video from showing a turkey embryo candled at 15 days. It’s pretty cool to see the embryos moving around inside the egg. Hopefully someday I’ll get better photos to share with you of the candling process.