Day 1 in the incubator! Need some help

[NewDucklings17]

Hello! I have a few questions, i made a homemade incubator, styrofoam cooler, 23 watt light bulb, temperature and humidity gauge and a little holder for the eggs to rest on.so far it is working great! Holding temperature between 99° and 100°. However i am really confused on the humidity. I have read that it should be in the 80's, 50's and 30's. But which one is it? Currently it is at 52%. The duck eggs are fertile, i candled them to make sure, a couple are a little more progressed than the others but not by much. How often a day do they need turned? Ive read between once a day to at least 3 or 4 times a day. Also, what day do you stop turning the eggs before hatching and should the temp and humidity be raised during the hatching period? If so raised to what? Sorry for all the questions but there is so much information that isnt the same! Thank you all!

 

[PD-Riverman]

Hello! I have a few questions, i made a homemade incubator, styrofoam cooler, 23 watt light bulb, temperature and humidity gauge and a little holder for the eggs to rest on.so far it is working great! Holding temperature between 99° and 100°. However i am really confused on the humidity. I have read that it should be in the 80's, 50's and 30's. But which one is it? Currently it is at 52%. The duck eggs are fertile, i candled them to make sure, a couple are a little more progressed than the others but not by much. How often a day do they need turned? Ive read between once a day to at least 3 or 4 times a day. Also, what day do you stop turning the eggs before hatching and should the temp and humidity be raised during the hatching period? If so raised to what? Sorry for all the questions but there is so much information that isnt the same! Thank you all!

For the incubation period most use a lower %---say in the 30's, during the last 3 days(hatch period) the humidity is raised from 70 to 80% by a lot. I like to turn 3 to 5 times a day. Good Luck and Welcome!

 

[NewDucklings17]

For the incubation period most use a lower %---say in the 30's, during the last 3 days(hatch period) the humidity is raised from 70 to 80% by a lot. I like to turn 3 to 5 times a day. Good Luck and Welcome!

Thank you so much. Is it too high being at 52% or would they be okay?

 

[NewDucklings17]

7/8 ducklings hatched last week!

 

[nicoschill]

I think 52% is too high. If you keep it so high your eggs will not loose that weight required to form sufficient air sac inside so that the ducklings will breath just before hatching day. On the 25th day (lock down day) they should already loose 14% of their total weight. So make your estimations.

 

[nicoschill]

Quote:

 

[NewDucklings17]

I think 52% is too high.  If you keep it so high your eggs will not loose that weight required to form sufficient air sac inside so that the ducklings will breath just before hatching day.  On the 25th day (lock down day) they should already loose 14% of their total weight.  So make your estimations. 

Thank you. But they already hatched. I lost one ducklikng because i was unaware if assisting with a malpositioned chick, but i had 7 out of 8 hatch! The one has an awkward beak tho, the bottom us longer than the top. Any ideas on what this could be?