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Duck Egg Help!

post #1 of 3
4/28/12 at 7:32pm
Thread Starter 

I have recently come into the possession of 2 duck eggs on their 22nd day of incubation. The very nice woman I got them from assured me that I could incubate them at home myself the rest of the way with only a heat lamp. They look appropriate for their development when candled (according to the googled DIYs) and I have a heat lamp and a nice pad to keep them on. I had a thermometer but found quickly that it was wildly in accurate and I am super paranoid about screwing up the eggs. I was fairly confident before but I really want to make sure that these guys hatch.

Can anyone give me some tips about hatching these duck eggs without a really incubator?

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post #2 of 3
4/29/12 at 4:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaSkyShore View Post

I have recently come into the possession of 2 duck eggs on their 22nd day of incubation. The very nice woman I got them from assured me that I could incubate them at home myself the rest of the way with only a heat lamp. They look appropriate for their development when candled (according to the googled DIYs) and I have a heat lamp and a nice pad to keep them on. I had a thermometer but found quickly that it was wildly in accurate and I am super paranoid about screwing up the eggs. I was fairly confident before but I really want to make sure that these guys hatch.

Can anyone give me some tips about hatching these duck eggs without a really incubator?


THAT women was way off!!!! You need humidity ...dampness to hatch them out...can you cuddle them in a moist washcloth.not sopping wet by any means but damp..loosly wrapped? Or even laid on top ..you can then mist the washcloth as itnstarts to dry out...the babies will be totally shrink wrapped if you dont get some kind of moisture going....heat lamp? Whats the wattage on the bulb? Needs to be no hotter than 102 max....are you tracking temperature?

Silver Laced Brahmas, Tolbunts,BBS Marans, Tolbunt mixed bucket of fun eggs and ;A bunch of projects working right now!!!!! wee.gif

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Silver Laced Brahmas, Tolbunts,BBS Marans, Tolbunt mixed bucket of fun eggs and ;A bunch of projects working right now!!!!! wee.gif

SWAP http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/swap-items-1

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post #3 of 3
4/29/12 at 1:39pm
Thread Starter 

She did tell me about the need for humidity (sorry I forgot to mention it in the OP), I have a small glass dish with a soaked rag in it sitting with the eggs. I blot them with warm water frequently but I worry that without a humidity monitor (have called and can't find one anywhere locally) that I won't be able to keep them moist enough. I heard that placing a wet rag on the eggs (even if warm) was not a good idea, is that not true? Something about the rag sapping away heat from the egg?
 

The heat lamp is a 250 watt, it is on loan from my mother-in-law and it is her chick-lamp (her Rhode Island Reds and Guinea Hens are fully feathered and didn't need it anymore). I picked up a good new thermometer last night and I have managed to keep the eggs with the heat lamp at 97-98 degrees, unfortunately I am at my mother's in her guest room before I take my eggs home tonight and it is a little drafty but I have managed to keep the eggs fairly constant.


We had a mishap last night while moving the eggs. The thermometer "meter" portion was knocked over and it landed on one of the eggs breaking the shell. It made a small thin hole in the shell but it is located at the air pocket portion so I placed a small bit of tape over the hole to keep it sealed. I wanted to cry when it happened. I am afraid that I have ruined that egg's chances of hatching with my butterfingers.

 

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