I'm getting duck eggs next week, have the incubator set up, etc. but I'm finding so much conflicting advice I don't know what I'm supposed to do. For instance, in Storey's guide to raising ducks, it says to start with 1 temp (101.5?) and raise it by 1/2 degree each week. But other places (including here) I'm hearing 99.5-100. Then I talked to a guy at the farmer's market today who raises poultry and he said stay at 98-99, because too hot might kill them. He also said not to use a digital thermometer, but that seems to be what everyone on here uses.
Then there's humidity. The incubator (a still-air Hovabator) didn't come with a hygrometer, and says to fill the middle section of the tray with water. I did, and added a hygrometer, which is now reading about 75%, but the Storey book says to aim for 55%. Oh, and did I mention that I have 2 thermometers in there and they are telling me 2 different temps about 4 degrees apart?
At this rate, it will be a miracle if I get these eggs hatched without losing my mind.
Then there's humidity. The incubator (a still-air Hovabator) didn't come with a hygrometer, and says to fill the middle section of the tray with water. I did, and added a hygrometer, which is now reading about 75%, but the Storey book says to aim for 55%. Oh, and did I mention that I have 2 thermometers in there and they are telling me 2 different temps about 4 degrees apart?
At this rate, it will be a miracle if I get these eggs hatched without losing my mind.
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