Hatching Welsh Harlequin eggs—-advice

[Crazy Duck Lover]

For lockdown I keep humidity at 60% but once there’s a pip I raise it to 70%-75%

 

[nmr]

If you’re talking about the Govee and the incubator to read the same, I don’t know if that’s possible. If both of your Govees are calibrated just trust those. I find my NR360’s temp gauge is off by a little.

I don’t do that. Many members I’ve talked to on BYC say the same thing, they don’t do it but it’s up to you. I also called Meyer Hatchery, Metzer Farms, and The TAMU AgriScience Extension Line, and they advised against it. I think the purpose of it is for the incubation to be more natural.

Here’s a quote from an article about duck eggs:
“You can mist and cool the eggs once a day after day 10 (cooling for 10 to 15 minutes a day) if the air cells are in good shape.. however misting them will also cause more evaporation from the eggs (though it is minimal).. so if the air cells (or weight) is too great hold off on the misting.. the misting is more important during the last two weeks”


Last thing, make sure you keep the vent OPEN throughout the whole incubation! The embryos need oxygen, or you will discover a TON of quitters. I made this mistake last month and only had 4/12 hatch. I forgot to open the air vent. Once I realized, I was already on day 13.

Leave the vent open even during lockdown?? The humidity doesn’t need to be higher??

 

[nmr]

55% if perfect in my opinion! I wouldn’t lower the temp, maybe only by .5 degrees.

thank you!!!

 

[nmr]

For lockdown I keep humidity at 60% but once there’s a pip I raise it to 70%-75%

How do you keep the humidity up without closing the vent? Or does filling both pots help with that?

 

[Crazy Duck Lover]

Leave the vent open even during lockdown?? The humidity doesn’t need to be higher??

Yes yes yes leave the vent open! The ducklings will be starting to use their respiratory system and NEED the extra oxygen! No that humidity has always worked for me

ETA: Filling both pots should help. If not, you can add a price of sponge to increase surface area

 

[nmr]

Yes yes yes leave the vent open! The ducklings will be starting to use their respiratory system and NEED the extra oxygen! No that humidity has always worked for m

Yes yes yes leave the vent open! The ducklings will be starting to use their respiratory system and NEED the extra oxygen! No that humidity has always worked for me

oK cool, I can definitely do that I’m so nervous lol

 

[Crazy Duck Lover]

Oh don’t worry! We all were! I get nervous every time I incubate!!

 

[nmr]

9 look pretty good, two are likely quitters and a third i didn’t see movement.

 

[nmr]

Day 26 and 4 eggs (that I can see so far) have pipped!

 

[Crazy Duck Lover]

Yayyy!!!!