Last night I started our first batch of Pekin eggs in our homemade incubator. I have named it the Quackmaster 5000 since it is built for the sole purpose of making quackers. I found a wealth of information here at BYC and stole ideas from several members to build it and am extremely happy with the results and performance so far. Of course we won't know how good it really works for another 28 days or so... It maintains temp perfectly between 98 and 100 degrees and humidity right around 70%. There seems to be a good deal of difference of opinion about the right humidity for duck eggs but I'm thinking we should be good considering the humid environment duck eggs naturally encounter. I'm also going to mist them once a day as recommended by some. Just makes sense to me that when the mother duck returns to brooding after a quick bite and drink she will be wet from her swim. I'll try to update this thread as the incubation/hatch progresses, please feel free to offer any advice/critiques as needed.
A view from the top. I sealed the window with silicone caulk and also used it to coat the exposed Styrofoam to keep it from shedding and keep moisture out of the lid.
View of the thermostat control panel. Very impressed with this unit.
View of the heat source. Should have turned it off for a better view but what you have here is a double light fixture from Lowes that is made for outdoor use to stand up to humidity. Also a PC fan to keep the air moving and a water bowl and sponge to keep things ducky.
Here is the egg/hatching platform. It is a wood frame with a hardware cloth surface. It sits up about five inches from the bottom of the cooler to give good air flow. The whole assembly is coated with spray can rubber to protect the ducklings feet and prevent wood rot and rust.
And here it us with the first batch of eggs. Also you can see the thermometer/ humidity sensor that connects wirelessly to a monitor in our living room.
Well, that's it. Now its all just a matter of time and maintenance.
A view from the top. I sealed the window with silicone caulk and also used it to coat the exposed Styrofoam to keep it from shedding and keep moisture out of the lid.
View of the thermostat control panel. Very impressed with this unit.
View of the heat source. Should have turned it off for a better view but what you have here is a double light fixture from Lowes that is made for outdoor use to stand up to humidity. Also a PC fan to keep the air moving and a water bowl and sponge to keep things ducky.
Here is the egg/hatching platform. It is a wood frame with a hardware cloth surface. It sits up about five inches from the bottom of the cooler to give good air flow. The whole assembly is coated with spray can rubber to protect the ducklings feet and prevent wood rot and rust.
And here it us with the first batch of eggs. Also you can see the thermometer/ humidity sensor that connects wirelessly to a monitor in our living room.
Well, that's it. Now its all just a matter of time and maintenance.
