Re: Egg turning

Tony theorised "the latter therefore requiring turning to evenly distribute heat throughout the egg, the former having this automatically."

This is not the case.  Turning of the egg serves to ensure that the embryo doesn't adhere to the egg membrane.  When the egg is turned the embryo actually swings around in the egg to maintain it's position at the top of the egg - several millimetres from the parents brood patch.  

The heat doesn't need to be evenly distributed throughout the egg.  It is more important that the developing embryo is at the correct temperature.   In artificial incubators the heat is regulated to ensure that the temperature just above the egg is the required temperature (around 101 degrees in the old scale).  In natural incubation the heat (generated by the brood patch) is being delivered to the top of the egg where the embryo is situated.

Cheers

Cheers

David Geering
Regent Honeyeater Recovery Coordinator
Department of Environment & Conservation
P.O. Box 2111
Dubbo  NSW  2830
Ph: 02 6883 5335 or Freecall 1800 621 056
Fax: 02 6884 9382



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