Lockdown-Heat Question

[Ducks81]

Hi!!! So my duck eggs are in for lock down. I have a “DIY” incubator with a fan. There is a 40W bulb. The heat just needs to go up 2 degrees!!! Right now it’s about 96.8 and the humidity is 82 degrees. Any ideas how to heat it up those two degrees?? I only have one pencil size hole open for air, so I can’t close it up anymore. I was thinking, what if I put a heating pad under it?? Thoughts?? I attached pictures in case that helps! Thanks everyone.

 

[Birdie mom]

i don't think that a two degree difference will hurt the eggs, i'm sure it will be fine. i wouldn't worry but i don't know that much about ducks. @Isaac 0 will this make a difference?

 

[Isaac 0]

Do you have a higher wattage bulb?

 

[Ducks81]

I do, 60W which is what I had in there the entire time up until now with the full top on with fan. The reason is because with that 60W bulb the heat would get really high sometimes and that was with a 4X6 hole on the top (no fan tho). I’m nervous if i put that bulb back in will it get TOO hot?....I can try it but then I will need to open it quick now to change it and then if it’s too high open it again to change it back, thoughts?

 

[DuckyDonna]

@Jpat is the master homemade incubator guy

 

[Jpat]

The problem of an incubator without a thermostat is room temperature becomes a huge factor, if the room gets warm in the day and cools at night the incubator will too

Sunlight is a huge problem too

Rasing 2 degrees is hard because its such a small amount, But mabye a 60w with the lid open a bit might work. Or just wrapping it with a blanket

Its a little odd that its low because at this stage the eggs usualy produce a small amount of heat and the temps go up

 

[Ducks81]

Well here is the thing...I had it running with a 60w bulb initially but the incubator at that point was still air. I had to cut out a big 4x6 hole on the top that I would slide open or shut while the heat fluctuated. It was working so I kept it that way and I was constantly monitoring it. And yes, as of recently temps have gone up. But then I started to freak out about lockdown and how stable the humidity and temps needed to be that I began to get nervous so I made a new top/lid which is the thick styrofoam with a fan on the top. There would no longer be no “big hole” so I chose to do a 40w bulb instead to help seal as much as I could to stabilize humidity. And that is when the bulb was working almost “just” right, except for those 2 degrees & the only hole open was a nickel sized one.
So NOW, my concern is “not enough air flow” I am being told so I placed the 60w bulb back and opened up about 8 holes. Most on the top and a couple along the bottom. I guess at this point my question would be, is there a such thing as “too” big of an open hole or open gap, even if the temp & humidity are at the correct numbers?? Btw, what do you recommend for lockdown temp & humidity. Do you have any suggestions or tops for me?? This is my first hatch which wasn’t planned. My duck abandoned her clutch. I have watched these little eggs thrive everyday and I really hope they make it!!!!! I never knew I would get this into it!!! Thanks for taking the time!!!

 

[DuckyDonna]

Lockdown temp should be 98.5° and humidity of 70-75%. I would say if you are maintaining those 2 things it would be ok. @Isaac 0 what do you think?

 

[Isaac 0]

For Forced air, I keep mine at 99F/99.5F during lock down, and for a still air you would keep the temp the first week at 101.5F, week two 102F, week three 102.5F, and the last week 103F. So you'd be started at 101.5F and raise the temp 0.5 each week.

70/75% humidity, sounds ok.

 

[Ducks81]

Thanks so much!!! I have the fan going & temp is fluctuating between 98-99.5, humidity about 70-80 average. Two days ago one was rocking a few times here and there. Especially when I would spritz it with water. For the last 48 hours or so I haven’t seen that one move at all. You think it’s still ok? Today is day 26. It’s so nerve wracking when you are staring at still eggs and can’t look inside to see what is going on!
@DuckyDonna @Isaac 0 @Jpat