Now I've done it !!!

[emjay]

I ordered a hovabator from Ebay !!! It's the 1602 model, comes with fan, turner, thermometer, etc etc.

yikes. what have I done

once I get it, be warned, I'll have a zillion questions, will be wanting to try it out right away.

HAVE MERCY !! spring fever is abound.

 

[GeneJordan]

i envy you...

lol

 

[duckyfromoz]

YEP...thats how it all starts...

Soon you will be getting a second to use as a hatcher so you can set eggs each week....then you will want to upgrade to a larger incubator. And all the while planning bigger coops and runs for here to keep your ever expanding flock. The hova is a great entry level incubator- but hatching is just so addictive.... Seeing those little ones come out of the egg- the joy it brings to see there little faces with the slick back down on their little wet heads is just so amazing.

Good luck with the new toy- may it provide you with many gorgeous healthy ducklings in the future.

 

[emjay]

I hope to have control. And stick with one incubator.
hahah.

now a question, or two.

can you incubate duck and chicken eggs together? and they all have to be set on the same day right? I know duck eggs are longer to hatch right? so I guess the answer is probably no.

as well, how does one know when duck eggs are fertile? as I've seen them mate, but, haven't been able to notice a ring in teh yolk like I can with my chicken eggs.

so many basic questions, sorry.

 

[annie3001]

congrats!
i bought an incubator a few months ago. its creeping its way from the basement to the kitchen etc.
dangerous close to being filled!
ha!

 

[gofasterstripe]

Congratulations, there will be no stopping you now. I tell you what... 28 days take aloooong time

 

[duckyfromoz]

Quote:
The best way to really know when a duck eggs fertile - is to incubate them and candle to see developement. You can crack open an egg- but just because that one " may look " fertile- doesnt mean the next one will be too. Of course you cant incubate an egg once its been crcked open.... so seriously- putting them into the incubator to see if somethings starts to grow is the only real way to be sure.

You can incubate chickens and ducks together- and while it is best done by putting in the chicken aggs a week after the ducks- they can also be put in at the same time. The issue is with the abilty to clean out the incubator after the chickens have hatched.

 

[emjay]

apparently I have some reading to do first before the incubator gets here.

opening the lid to put chicken eggs in after a week, how fast or how long can the lid be open before you ruin things?

I hope this thing comes with an easy to follow manual.

so much to learn on this too,

will be a fun first experience, once I get it set up.

 

[Quacking]

Ducks and chickens wil get off the nest each day, so opening the incubator while you put eggs in wont be a problem. Have you read anything yet about how some people find laying the duck eggs on their sides will result in a better hatch rate? I do that with mine rather than using a turner. You can remove some of the egg rails from a hovabator turner if you decide to hand turn the duck eggs. That way you can cater for both chicken and duck eggs.

 

[emjay]

Quote:
interesting, I hope someone chimes in on their experiences with hatch rate with duck eggs on their sides.