New..need help!

[KatOduckmama]

I am on day three of my first incubation and have had trouble keeping my temp steady. Humidity is staying in mid 60's...i have candled a few to see if I can see anything but I don't exactly know what I'm looking for...i have a home made incubator. Please help. Does anyone have any advise for me? the temp has been staying between 95 and 100f. Is that ok ?

 

[aprille218]

Does your incubator have a fan in it (is it forced air or still air)? Keep the temp at 99.5 for a forced air incubator and 102 for a still air incubator. Day 3 is usually too early to see much in development of duck eggs. I usually candle at day 7 or so and toss any that aren't developing. Here's a website to use for more info too http://www.howtoincubate.com/
Aprille

 

[KatOduckmama]

My husband put a computer fan in it I was wondering if a light bulb or heating pad would work better? I have been watching non stop to correct temp as needed, haven't had much sleep in past few days..it has been unusually hot this summer and when it cools way down at night is when temp fluctuates most...I'm not getting discouraged or too excited til this weeken on day 7 I will candle again... I'm just wondering if the fluctuating temp will affect the development and fertility? Thank you aprille! And thank you in advanced to anyone that helps!!

 

[Quackers08]

My incubator does that a lot but my advise is to just hang in there. If it goes from 99.5 to 100 it should be okay. go on candling call duck eggs on metzer farms. You may not be candling calls but the pictures at different stages are really good to give you a rough idea. What are you incubating?

 

[KatOduckmama]

I am incubating ancona (possibly cayuga mix). I have 2 thermometers, a digital acu-rite that keeps fluctuating between 92 and 102, also a coil thermometer that has pretty much stayed at 95°, the coil one is put in right next to eggs and digital is set aside by window to see temp from far away....

 

[KatOduckmama]

Now I have put a meat thermometors stuck thru side wall that stays right around 100° ...am I doing this right!?

 

[KatOduckmama]

Ahhh im so excited! I just candled my 8 eggs and 5 are growing strong! I know its early so I'm not confront my chicks before they hatch! But I can hardly contain myself!

 

[KatOduckmama]

I only have 3 eggs growing now...how can I keep my temp steady?! Someone please help!

 

[Quackers08]

I only have 3 out of 18 no idea about the temp sorry. Still trying to figure it out myself!

 

[KatOduckmama]

Well my wonderful hubby hooked up a hot water heater thermostat to the light in my incubator and temp has stayed at 99°...except the other night my son accidently turned off switch powering my incubator and temp dropped to 84°...one died for sure one I can't tell yet but one is still kicking! I was so surprised that any had made it because I have no idea how long it had been off for....my one little guy is moving around and doing ok I think..will deff keep a better eye on incubator