Part 0800.0005

[ducker]

hi,

I've made a cardboard incubator where one side has a hole in it for the light socket to go in,and the other side has a plastic window,and its at around 43.5 degrees celsius and 12% humidity ,Could someone please tell me how to make the humidity higher and the Temperature lower.I want to hatch duck eggs.Please tell me how to tell which eggs are fertile just before i put them in the incubator.i need to know what Temperature and humidity for duck eggs.

 

thanks

[Redwing]

You wont know if the eggs are fertile until they have been in the incubator for a week but if the ducks have been in with a drake for a week or more before they laid the eggs then there is a good chance that some at least will be fertile. When the eggs have been in the incubator for a week you can candle them to see if there is any development

 

I'm not sure about the inccy, you'd need more ventilation (literally just a few small holes) to get the temp down or use a lower wattage bulb - I'd try changing the bulb as although you do need ventilation in an incubator too much of it will make it harder to raise the humidity whilst keeping the temp down at the end of the hatch

 

Are you sure the humidity reader is accurate? with no water in my inccy is still at 30% humidity. you can raise humidity by putting a vessel of water in the inccy, either a wine glass (as the water is then out of reach of the hatching chicks) or a normal glass or dish with some wet kitchen roll in (change this regularly)

 

Using a home made incubator is a heck of a gamble, the light bulb ones are prone to hot spots (where one part of the box is warm and other parts cold) and they often result in poor hatches but its worth a try - turn the eggs at least three times a day and maybe very where they are in the incubator

 

The temps and humidity for duck eggs can be found on the internet, I wouldnt like to guess these as I have never hatched ducks before