Incubating

[Mrichard0930]

I'm so sorry about losing your Donald
I'd say same as Pyxis about collecting the eggs and setting all at once. It's nicer for the ducklings if they have hatch mates too, and easier to care for if they are the same age and require the same feed, same level of heat etc.

Do you have a second thermometer and Hygrometer? If not it would be worth getting. I think with it being Brinsea it should hold its temp even if your house is getting cold, so long as its not too extreme (never used a Brinsea but they are meant to be good and I am considering getting one). I would think having to pull all your insulation off to turn eggs, change water, monitor everything you're probably hurting more than you're helping as it needs to stabilise temps which it can't do if it keeps changing around it. Leave it in as stable a room as you can, and have the back up gauges to keep watch.

And I wish you luck, I think it's a lovely thing to do

Thank you. What do I need another thermometer for the inside or outside of incubator? I have a milk thermometer and candle thermometer and a room temp one.

 

[Emmaxx]

Inside the incubator, as a back up and you want one that you can calibrate. Sometimes the ones that come with the incubator can be a little off, even when brand new, and a few degrees off in either direction can ruin your hatch. I have no idea what those thermometers are like but I'm sure there someone else who could tell you if they'd work.

ETA: the brinsea has a removable mercury type thermometer doesn't it? maybe you could just calibrate that one (I'll try to find the link for you) although it's always 'best practice' to have a back up if you can.

 

[Mrichard0930]

I'm curious about the eggs she laid over the last 2 weeks? You could incubate them now! Then let her build a nest if she wants, but if she isn't broody, that could be a waste.

I have 2 Brinsea Octagons, but not the Mini. although I love them, I also bought a Harris Farms, and I really like it too. And it holds more eggs than the mini, so if you would consider trading, that could be a great option!

If you don't want to do that, I would set eggs from last week now (if you still have them), then collect the next set of eggs from her, but replace each one with an older egg, if possible, just to "hold a place" for the good ones you collect this week and keep. Then if she decides to sit, trade the old eggs for the fresh ones. Or make another incubator for the fresh ones if she doesn't.

Thank you. I don’t have any old ones because I had cleaned them they were from her outside cage which out there they get soiled on.

 

[Mrichard0930]

I would put them in an egg carton with the fat end up. Prop one side of the carton up on something so it's tilted and change the propped side once a day. Try to keep them at room temperature. 60 degrees was found to be the best temperature for longterm storing of hatching eggs, but room temperature, around 70 or so, is fine for storing for a week to ten days.

Hey so I am going to go stop the one egg in the incubator I have had in there since yesterday. Please tell me I can store it and put it back in once I collect eight of them ? Or since I started the process for 24 hours did it start and i can’t use it now?

 

[Emmaxx]

Here's an article about calibrating thermometers.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

 

[Mrichard0930]

I have never hatched duck eggs before and I have never used an Eco mini II either
I'm guessing its okay to leave the incubator on the table, does it have a thermometer so you can tell how warm it is?
I understand you wanting to hatch eggs from that duck I have an old chicken who hatched at my house and I really want to hatch some of her eggs before she dies( Its not the same as yours though)

sorry this post has no useful info but I don't know anything about ducks

@Emmaxx @Pyxis @WVduckchick any help

Thank you

 

[Mrichard0930]

Inside the incubator, as a back up and you want one that you can calibrate. Sometimes the ones that come with the incubator can be a little off, even when brand new, and a few degrees off in either direction can ruin your hatch. I have no idea what those thermometers are like but I'm sure there someone else who could tell you if they'd work.

ETA: the brinsea has a removable mercury type thermometer doesn't it? maybe you could just calibrate that one (I'll try to find the link for you) although it's always 'best practice' to have a back up if you can.

Okay thank you I’ll test my candle one in ice water I just googled and it says to put ice cubes once melted should be 32 degrees.
Can I reuse the egg I started to incubate for 24 hours? Once I collect them I’m going to put all in at once now
Thanks

 

[Mrichard0930]

Here's an article about calibrating thermometers.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

Thank you.

 

[Pyxis]

Hey so I am going to go stop the one egg in the incubator I have had in there since yesterday. Please tell me I can store it and put it back in once I collect eight of them ? Or since I started the process for 24 hours did it start and i can’t use it now?

I'm honestly not sure. I have never tried doing that; I don't know if it would be okay with a hiatus in incubation this early or if since it's already started to develop it would die if taken out of the incubator.

 

[Mrichard0930]

Forgot to say, if you're willing to spend a little more money than you did on that Eco, you could take it back to Tractor Supply and exchange it for a Harris Farms Nurture Right 360, which cost $10 more, are fully digital, have an autoturner, and hold 22 eggs instead of the smaller amount that the Brinsea holds. I have one and it works very well and is very reliable.

That way, you could set more of her eggs and have a larger chance of hatching some ducklings.

I’m going to see if I can exchange it tomorrow at tractor supply for the one you mentioned. I took the egg I had in there since yesterday can I reuse that egg? I was counting on that egg for some reason cause it was the last egg she lad with Donald with her.
Thanks you so much for helping btw I appreciate it so much