What Temperature Do You Incubate Turkey Eggs? A Complete Guide

Incubating and hatching healthy turkey poults starts with setting your incubator to the proper temperature. But what temperature do you actually need to incubate turkey eggs successfully?

Let’s take an in-depth look at the ideal incubation temperatures, why temperature control is so critical, and how to monitor and regulate temps for optimal results.

Why Temperature Matters During Turkey Egg Incubation

Temperature impacts the developing turkey embryo in a few key ways:

• It affects the rate of development, The embryo develops more quickly at higher temperatures

• It impacts metabolism and growth. Warmer temperatures increase the embryo’s metabolism and growth rate.

• It influences hatchability and poult quality. Correct temperatures lead to higher hatch rates and stronger poults. Incorrect temps can lead to embryo death.

Even small fluctuations above or below the ideal incubation temperature can negatively affect the embryos. That’s why controlling and monitoring the temperature is essential for turkey egg incubation.

Recommended Temperature for Incubating Turkey Eggs

The consensus among turkey incubation experts is that 99,5°F (375°C) is the optimal temperature for incubating turkey eggs

Minor variations of about 0.5°F higher or lower are acceptable. However, significant or prolonged deviations from the 99.5°F standard can reduce incubation success.

Here are some key turkey egg incubation temperature recommendations

• Set your incubator to maintain a constant 99.5°F air temperature.

• The internal egg temperature will run about 0.5°F higher than the air by late incubation.

• The eggshell surface temperature, reflecting internal egg temp, should be around 100°F.

• Allow a 0.5°F drop after adding eggs, then boost back to 99.5°F within hours.

• Keep the temperature as stable as possible, avoiding fluctuations beyond 0.5°F.

Why 99.5°F is the Ideal Temperature

There are several reasons why 99.5°F is the standardized optimal incubation temperature:

• It matches the natural body temperature of breeding turkey hens, around 105°F.

• It aligns with temperatures inside eggs incubated beneath hens, around 99.5°F.

• It matches the ideal developmental rate for turkey embryos to maximize hatch.

• It accommodates the increased metabolic heat output of turkey eggs.

• Turkey hatcheries found 99.5°F delivered the highest hatch rates and poult quality.

For these reasons, 99.5°F became the industry standard temperature for incubating turkey eggs.

How Temperature Impacts the Turkey Embryo

To understand why 99.5°F is ideal, it helps to know how temperature affects the developing turkey embryo:

• Higher temps accelerate development, but too hot can be deadly.

• Warmer environments increase embryonic metabolism and growth.

• Cooler temperatures slow development and metabolism, reducing growth.

• Fluctuating temperatures can stress embryos and cause developmental issues.

• Extreme highs or lows will kill embryos. Turkeys thrive in a tight temperature range.

• The turkey embryo generates increasing metabolic heat as it grows, heating the egg further.

Low temps slow the embryo’s progress, while high temps overheat and kill it. Both extremes reduce hatch rates.

Temperature Differences: Chicken vs. Turkey Incubation

While the basics are similar, there are some key differences between incubating chicken and turkey eggs:

• Turkey eggs take 28 days to hatch vs. 21 days for chickens.

• Turkey eggs are larger, so embryos produce more metabolic heat.

• The ideal turkey temp is 99.5°F vs. 99.6°F for chickens.

• More cooling and airflow are needed in turkey incubators.

• Turkey machines should have lower egg densities than chicken incubators.

• Turkey embryos are less tolerant of overheating than chicken embryos.

The increased heat output of turkey embryos makes temperature control even more critical. Even minor overheating can sharply reduce turkey hatchability.

Monitoring Temperatures During Turkey Incubation

To maintain proper temperatures, you’ll need to monitor the incubator and egg temps. Here are some tips:

• Observe the incubator’s digital display to check air temps.

• Use a thermometer placed centrally to verify air temperatures.

• Measure eggshell temps with an infrared thermometer gun.

• Track real-time temps with data loggers and sensors.

• Watch embryo growth and behavior for signs of incorrect temperatures.

• Perform hatch assessments to identify temperature issues.

With diligent monitoring, you can catch any deviations from 99.5°F and make adjustments to get temperatures back on track.

Controlling Turkey Incubation Temperatures

Here are some tips for controlling turkey egg incubation temperatures:

• Operate incubators in temperature-controlled rooms around 70°F.

• Pre-warm incubators for 24 hours before adding eggs.

• Increase airflow and fan speeds if eggs are overheating.

• Add more water to raise humidity if eggs are cooling excessively.

• Adjust thermostats in small 0.5°F increments to fine-tune temperatures.

• Only make changes after monitoring trends over time, not reacting to momentary blips.

What Happens if Temperatures Are Too High?

Incubating turkey eggs above 99.5°F can lead to:

• Accelerated but abnormal embryo growth.

• Overheating and death of embryos.

• Increased early and mid-development mortality.

• Lower hatch rates.

• Weaker, smaller poults that fail to thrive.

• More poult abnormalities and defects.

• Dehydration as embryos attempt to cool themselves.

Even 1-2 degrees above 99.5°F can significantly increase turkey embryo mortality thanks to their extra metabolic heat output.

What Happens if Temperatures Are Too Low?

If turkey incubation temperatures drop below 99.5°F, possible problems include:

• Slower embryo growth and development.

• Weak or stunted poults with unhealed navels.

• Lower hatchability and higher late-term mortality.

• Failure of embryos to pip shells due to insufficient strength.

• More physical abnormalities.

• Increased incubation time required.

• Weaker immune function in poults.

Cooler temperatures reduce the embryo’s metabolism and growth. This makes them less developed and robust by hatch time.

Maintaining Stable Turkey Incubation Temperatures

Fluctuating temperatures during incubation can be just as detrimental as constant extreme highs or lows. Turkey embryos develop best with stable temps.

Tips for minimizing turkey egg temperature swings:

• Site incubators away from doors, windows, and vents affecting room temps.

• Ensure incubators aren’t overloaded beyond cooling capacity.

• Use data loggers to identify cycles of instability.

• Make minor humidity adjustments to balance temperatures.

• Ensure proper airflow and fan operation.

• Keep incubator rooms at constant temperatures.

• Consider upgraded incubators with superior insulation and electronics.

The general rule is to keep fluctuations within 0.5°F of the 99.5°F target. Quick 2-3 degree changes can stress embryos. Stable temps become especially crucial by mid-incubation.

Achieving excellent turkey hatchability and poult quality requires holding the incubation temperature at a steady 99.5°F with minimal variations. Lower/higher temperatures and fluctuations put embryos at risk. Close monitoring and control of the temperature are essential for incubating turkey eggs successfully. The effort provides big rewards with each healthy hatch!