Just over a month ago we had to rehome our Pekin drake, which left my little call duck very lonely. About 3 weeks ago she went broody and rather than discouraging her I decided to let her hatch some eggs, so I ordered 18 from eBay. After doing some reading up on hatching them I found out how difficult they can be and that my tiny call duck probably won't be able to hatch all 18 on her own. We dug out the incubator, got it cleaned up and warming for the eggs. It worked out well because we ended up getting 24 instead of 18. They arrived Thursday, we allowed them to rest for 24 hours and then put half under my little call duck and half in the incubator. The incubator is a Farm innovators 4200, still air incubator with auto turner. Here is what I've done so far:
Arrival day: 24 hours rest
Day 1: candle eggs, put in incubator fat side up, auto turner stays off for 3 days
Day 3: candled eggs, Mark air cells, number each egg, turn on auto turner
I have 2 thermometers and 2 hygrometers inside of the incubator beside the eggs, there is also the factory installed thermometer and hygrometer on top. They have all been pretty much the same temp/humidity all along, I check several times a day. They have held steady at about 100*f and about 60% humidity. I have not been able to get the humidity to drop any lower than 55%. Will the higher humidity effect the hatch? Am I doing ok so far? Should I be trying to candle the eggs under my broody girl or just let her take care of them? If she decides to leave her nest how long is too long? Is there a point when I should start worrying about her not going back to the nest?
Arrival day: 24 hours rest
Day 1: candle eggs, put in incubator fat side up, auto turner stays off for 3 days
Day 3: candled eggs, Mark air cells, number each egg, turn on auto turner
I have 2 thermometers and 2 hygrometers inside of the incubator beside the eggs, there is also the factory installed thermometer and hygrometer on top. They have all been pretty much the same temp/humidity all along, I check several times a day. They have held steady at about 100*f and about 60% humidity. I have not been able to get the humidity to drop any lower than 55%. Will the higher humidity effect the hatch? Am I doing ok so far? Should I be trying to candle the eggs under my broody girl or just let her take care of them? If she decides to leave her nest how long is too long? Is there a point when I should start worrying about her not going back to the nest?
