candle pics

[desertdarlene]

Awwww

I know that happened with some killdeer eggs I was watching on a nest cam. They almost hatched, but about three days before they were due, a very cold, wet storm happened and I think the eggs were sitting in water for a day or so. One egg even got thrown out by the parents and it was totally black and couldn't be seen through. The parents kept trying to hatch the rest, but, finally, they gave up and a predator got them, except for half a one with a chick still inside. I was told that the chick looked like it was almost totally ready to go, too.

Very sad, I was waiting all month for them to hatch.

 

[katharinad]

Quote:
I'm sorry it didn't work out. Humidity should be 55%, and then 75-85% during lock down. Have the eggs rest for 12 hours at room temperature when they arrive. The eggs need to be turned 3 times per day 180 degrees and they need to be misted with 100 degree water once per day until lock down. Lock down is day 26, that is when the humidity needs to be way up and no more turning then. Do not open the incubator during lock down. Good luck with the home made incubator, they can be tricky. Also don't forget that they do need a few holes on the bottom to allow some air flow.

 

[davekrista]

Yes I do have some air holes (vent holes) 2 of them, a little bigger than pin hole size, is that big enough? I have them taped up because i was trying to get the humidity level up to 86. (I was confused lol) but now I figured it out. Nancy said to let them set for 8 hours at room temperature after they arrive. I was going to do research on when to put them in the incubator so as to get the best possibility of them hatching after the kids get out of school and before bed.... (i know easier said then done.) So is that an 8 - 12 hour window? My mail usually gets here between 3 - 4 pm so either way it will be VERY late when i am putting them in the bator. Should I untape the holes?

 

[katharinad]

I never dared to use a home made one, because so many things can go wrong. Temperature fluctuation and humidity issues are the biggest issues. There is no way of measuring the oxygen concentration, unless you have special equipment on hand. The manufacturers have it already figured out to the best possible way. My machine has at least 8 holes, but again it has to be in relation to the size of the entire machine. I would keep them open. BTW the eggs can sit up to 24 hours before putting them into the incubator. You want them to rest and get to room temperature so you don't have condensation problems etc. It also settles the yolk. 8-12 hours is what most use.

On shipped eggs you should expect a hatching rate of 30-50%, if you lucky you get up to 70%.

 

[desertdarlene]

Sorry it didn't work out, so sad, poor unhatched ducklings. Hopefully, your next batch will be better. Please keep us informed, I was following your dilemma very closely. Hope to see some cute duckling photos soon.

 

[davekrista]

Thanks Darlene. I hope so as well.
Katherine - that 30-50% doesn't sound like good odds, but hopefully I will have better luck.

I am very confident. I'm going to make some adjustments on the bator and then I will take some pics and post them. I have had luck with the temp staying at 97, just need to get the humidity correct.

 

[katharinad]

That is the reality of mail ordered eggs. It's hard on them. So keep your expectations low and you walk out happy when it is higher then that. I see on ebay people telling they have 90% on their own eggs. That sound right, but it does not include the shipping part. Shaking of the eggs is really bad for them. Even sitting on a delivery truck is bad. So you should take it with caution. I had one hatch this year that was only 10% hatching rate. It stinks, but what can you do. Another hatch was 80% and I was ready to party. 30-50% is a realistic expectation. You need to get up to 99 degrees for incubation. During lockdown you can go down to 97 degrees.

Forgot to mention that the temperature should be taken on top of the eggs.

 

[davekrista]

I think it was only 97 because I had gone in it alot for adjustments. I have it hooked up to a water heater thermometer that I can adjust, so I was trying to play with the adjustments. I can turn it up a little if i need to. I will take pics after I post this.