Just bought a "frost" 40 watt bulb for incubator- did i get the right one?

[Ally Rose]

I have no idea what frost means, but my mom said just to get the frost lightbulb. I don't know if it matters, but is a frost lightbulb fine for an incubator?

 

[dominicsaturday]

A "frosted" light bulb is opaque and not clear. You can't see through it. They produce "soft" light that won't hurt your eyes.

Clear bulbs can throw more light.

 

[Ally Rose]

So is it ok to use for an incubator? will it work?

 

[dominicsaturday]

I don't see why not?

As long as the bulb can keep the incubator at a constant temperature.

As of right now, I have 15 orphan duck eggs in a styrofoam cooler with a regular desk lamp above them. The bulb is frosted. I've been keeping wet paper towels and wash clothes in there for humidity. The temp hovers at about 99-101 degrees All of my ducklings are still alive inside the eggs, so I assume it's working.

Good luck!

 

[Ally Rose]

Thanks! I have a normal desk light, should i just put the bulb in that instead of a light socket? Does a lamp work better than just a plain bulb?

PS what kind of ducks are you hatching?

 

[dominicsaturday]

If you have the time to put it in a socket, that's probably your best bet. There are many diagrams and pictures of various incubators. Some have thermostats to control the temperature better.

One of my mother ducks was attacked and eaten by coyotes about 3 days ago, so my incubator is a very last minute sort of thing.

I grabbed a foam cooler, packed straw into the bottom, cut a hole in the top for the lamp, and put a thermometer in with the eggs.

The eggs are most likely past 3 weeks, so I don't have to worry about the temperature being exactly spot on. I have some rags with water in there for humidity.

Seeing as they went an entire day until I realized their mother was no longer on the nest, I think they will pull through. All are still alive and moving when I candle them.

They are Pekin ducklings, by the way.

 

[Ally Rose]

Wow thats wonderful! sorry about your duck, though. I still need to get a light socket, but when you say "if you have the time to put it in a socket" does that mean it takes a long time to set up?

 

[dominicsaturday]

Not at all. You can build an incubator that will do the job. Just don't expect 100% hatch.

In my case, I didn't have the time to set up any sort of permanent incubator, just something that could provide the eggs with enough heat/humidity to make it through the last couple days of their term.

Good luck!

-Dominic

 

[Ally Rose]

Ok thats what i thought. I ordered 8 eggs last night, a weird assortment because i couldn't make up my mind:
4 Pekin
2 Fawn and White Runner
1 Buff
1 Black Swedish