Argh! Incubator temp taking forever to get back up... question...

[FenDruadin]

I locked down my duck eggs tonight. It was quite an undertaking with 42 eggs, and I needed to do a ten-day candle on the eggs that are not ready to hatch, as well as mark the air cells on those that are. My husband helped lock them down, which was a big help, but they were still out for about twenty minutes or so. Put water in the incubator--thought it was plenty warm--but it's taking FOREVER for it to get back up to temp. It's been hovering around 97-98. How long can that go on before it causes problems for the babies?

Thanks!

 

[duckyfromoz]

How did things go with the incubator overnight?? Do you have a separate incubator for lockdown?? Or are all your eggs in the same incubator? I use a second just as a hatcher- to make clean up easier without having to disturb any unhatched eggs. Also I do turn the tempt down very slightly at lockdown- But only do it because I use the second incubator.

 

[FenDruadin]

I woke up this morning and the thermometer was reading 97 degrees! I freaked out. This is an expensive guaranteed accurate thermometer and has never been off by even half a degree before. Sooooo......

I turned the thermostat up and thought I must have knocked it last night while locking down.

Until I tried to move the thermometer a bit and realized the probe was sitting on top of one of the wet rags placed there for humidity.

Moved the thermometer, temp miraculously went back up to 100. Whew.

ANNNDDD... I have two pips this morning! Woot!!

 

[FenDruadin]

Oh, forgot to answer your questions: All in one incubator. I know this is not the recommended procedure, but a second incubator is not an option at the moment (we are going to try to build one... eventually), and I don't want 42 ducklings at a time, plus I think they'll sell better in two week batches instead of once a month.

So, we'll see how it goes...

 

[duckyfromoz]

I think I know more people that only use one bator with staggered hatches- than those with a second bator. And most of them have a lot of success using only the one - I mainly got mine so I can have the second one beside my bed- I love being woken in the middle of the night to a little one who has just hatched... Of course it doesnt help me to get 8 hours sleep a night. 42 at one time- Ive seen photos of 50 or so- But I would have to give up my job and stay home to care for that many all at once. I usually only set about ten or so egg at a time.

 

[FenDruadin]

That is hilarious--my husband would probably have me committed if I decided to put the hatcher beside the bed. He already thinks I'm nuts for getting up three times in the middle of the night to check on hatching babies, lol.