How to keep eggs warm before hatching?

[Milldred]

I have recently been hatching some fertile duck eggs with my broody hen and although the first four of five have hatched I found that one has been left and is quite cold although it is still making quite a lot of noise and should be hatching about now. I tried to get my broody to sit on it but she has completely rejected it and isn't sitting on the ducklings despite some of them being only less than a day old. For the moment I have been using a homemade water bottle to keep it warm however this can only be temporary as it is leaking and quite impractical. Does anyone have any advice on what to do? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I have recently been hatching some fertile duck eggs with my broody hen and although the first four of five have hatched I found that one has been left and is quite cold although it is still making quite a lot of noise and should be hatching about now. I tried to get my broody to sit on it but she has completely rejected it and isn't sitting on the ducklings despite some of them being only less than a day old. For the moment I have been using a homemade water bottle to keep it warm however this can only be temporary as it is leaking and quite impractical. Does anyone have any advice on what to do? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

A heating pad or under a heat lamp will also provide heat, but at hatch time you need humidity as well and the heat should be at least 99-101F

 

[Milldred]

Thanks for the advice! I found one of those microwaveable plush toys which i have noticed becomes quite humid after going in the microwave. Do you think this would provide enough humidity?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thanks for the advice! I found one of those microwaveable plush toys which i have noticed becomes quite humid after going in the microwave. Do you think this would provide enough humidity?

I don't know. Generally in incubators at hatch time the environment is at least 60% humidity up to 75% for some of us hatchers.

 

[Milldred]

Thanks! I think I might try slightly dampening it before I put it in the microwave.