Don't Worry About the Occasional Jerk
Don't Worry About the Occasional Jerk
First-time incubator owners are sometimes concerned by the small over-centre movement of the egg tray as it changes direction. In nature, however, eggs are far from motionless.
Listen to a broody hen settling onto her nest and you'll often hear the eggs clicking together as she rearranges them with her beak and feet. Eggs are regularly bumped, rolled and jostled throughout the day.
The yolk itself is suspended within the albumen by the chalazae, which act as natural suspension cords, helping to protect the developing embryo. In fact, these small sudden changes in orientation may be beneficial.
Research has shown that increasing the frequency of turning reduces the incidence of certain malpositions.
One possible explanation is that the embryo undergoes a series of biologically programmed changes in posture, particularly during the critical period when it rotates into its final hatching position beneath the air cell.
The incubator does not force the embryo to make these turns. Rather, each mechanical turn changes the direction of gravity acting on the egg's contents, presenting the embryo with repeated opportunities to complete the manoeuvres required by its biology.
A timely mechanical turn, occurring just as the embryo is attempting one of these critical movements, may actually assist it into the correct position. For this reason, the occasional jerk or "flip-flop" of the egg tray should not be regarded as harmful.
Eggs evolved in a nest environment that was dynamic, not perfectly still.
Listen to a broody hen settling onto her nest and you'll often hear the eggs clicking together as she rearranges them with her beak and feet. Eggs are regularly bumped, rolled and jostled throughout the day.
The yolk itself is suspended within the albumen by the chalazae, which act as natural suspension cords, helping to protect the developing embryo. In fact, these small sudden changes in orientation may be beneficial.
Research has shown that increasing the frequency of turning reduces the incidence of certain malpositions.
One possible explanation is that the embryo undergoes a series of biologically programmed changes in posture, particularly during the critical period when it rotates into its final hatching position beneath the air cell.
The incubator does not force the embryo to make these turns. Rather, each mechanical turn changes the direction of gravity acting on the egg's contents, presenting the embryo with repeated opportunities to complete the manoeuvres required by its biology.
A timely mechanical turn, occurring just as the embryo is attempting one of these critical movements, may actually assist it into the correct position. For this reason, the occasional jerk or "flip-flop" of the egg tray should not be regarded as harmful.
Eggs evolved in a nest environment that was dynamic, not perfectly still.