Simulated Natural Nest Incubation~Experiment #1 So it begins....

[Beekissed]

Welp. Looks like I get to start this project way earlier than I thought I would... or even wanted to.

One broody on a nest. Gold phase WH duck quit, and one of my silvers just disappeared. Her eggs are cold (nest empty for almost two days, so I don't think the eggs are even alive) and there is no sign of her anywhere. ): This is so disappointing, because Thoth was one of the favorites. I mean, because she wasn't really up to standard, I probably would have sold her or my family would have eaten her either way, but she had such a personality. She wasn't flighty like my other two WH ducks, and she had spunk. She was definitely the oddball of the group.

Anyways, Bee, I have a styrofoam box, filled with dirt, and leaves and feathers on top. My Mallard(the only broody one) was kind enough to lend me a few of her eggs and some of the softer feathers from her nest. I have a heating pad over the eggs, but there are two sun-warmed bricks on either side holding the heating pad so that it isn't laying on the eggs. I don't know if that's good or bad, but I remember you mentioning that you had better success when the heating pad wasn't actually touching the eggs.

I don't have an available thermometer, so I'm using my hand. No spray bottle (what the heck kind of home doesn't have a spray bottle?! My home) but I did take a slightly wet washcloth and kind of wrang it out over the eggs. They didn't get soaked, but each egg had a few good-sized drops on it. The heating pad I have does turn off automatically (ugh) but when I get the money, I'll buy a better one. This is going to have to do for now. It doesn't shut off every two hours or anything, just if it gets "too hot." I don't know what temperature that is. But I go to sleep pretty late and wake up pretty earlier anyways, so if it does turn off at night, it's unlikely the eggs will get more than a couple of hours of colder temperatures.

Any other advice you have?

No, I didn't have better success when the heating pad wasn't touching the eggs. On the last nest it was touching the eggs all the way until around Day 18 when temps spiked a little higher than I liked and then I placed a spacer to keep the internal egg temps lower.

I don't know about using styrofoam and how it will breathe? I think the cardboard was a good container because of the breathability to it. On the most successful nest I never used a spray bottle....just dumped a qt. of water into the soil that was about 4 in. deep, covered that with leaves and then the hay. I'm not sure about duck eggs...seems I read they needed more humidity?

I think, if you are going to have any measure of success with this~and I could be wrong, so don't quote me~you'll need to have steady heat, a way to measure internal egg temps(a water wiggler and meat thermometer did very well for me and finally helped me get the temps right in the nest), and find how much humidity those duck eggs will need...could be more than the chickens, but not sure what would be the best way to provide that without some way to measure it.

ETA: Oh...and you can forego the feathers....they didn't do anything for the hatch and were a constant headache. I'm STILL sweeping up feathers and keep finding them in odd places in my home...shoes, books, bathroom, etc.

 

[Zombified]

No, I didn't have better success when the heating pad wasn't touching the eggs. On the last nest it was touching the eggs all the way until around Day 18 when temps spiked a little higher than I liked and then I placed a spacer to keep the internal egg temps lower.

I don't know about using styrofoam and how it will breathe? I think the cardboard was a good container because of the breathability to it. On the most successful nest I never used a spray bottle....just dumped a qt. of water into the soil that was about 4 in. deep, covered that with leaves and then the hay. I'm not sure about duck eggs...seems I read they needed more humidity?

I think, if you are going to have any measure of success with this~and I could be wrong, so don't quote me~you'll need to have steady heat, a way to measure internal egg temps(a water wiggler and meat thermometer did very well for me and finally helped me get the temps right in the nest), and find how much humidity those duck eggs will need...could be more than the chickens, but not sure what would be the best way to provide that without some way to measure it.

ETA: Oh...and you can forego the feathers....they didn't do anything for the hatch and were a constant headache. I'm STILL sweeping up feathers and keep finding them in odd places in my home...shoes, books, bathroom, etc.

Oh, okay, I see. Understood.

I can't just dump water in it. I chose styrofoam for better insulation. It isn't very tall. The eggs still have plenty of room to breathe. I really don't have any money right now. In fact, I'm in the hole about $130+ right now. So this is the best solution that I have for now.

 

[luv2ride]

So...no news of the baby yet?

Can't wait to see pics!

Was watching the Hootie Hatch running around like cotton balls all over the brooder today...they are so entertaining to watch. Just darling! They are loving the nipple water bucket, the fermented feed and also the heating pad brooder heater...they love that most of all. Saw some of them warming up on top of it towards evening but even before the big chickens go to roost, those babies are hidden under the heated hut...not a chick in sight. I LOVE this method of providing heat to them...so very natural and cozy for them than that light glaring down on them and having to turn it on and off as the day gets warm and the night gets cool. The heating pad can stay on all day long without causing the brooder to get too warm...it's lovely!

Listed the Hootie Hatch in the locals today, to come out on Wednesday. Selling them and the parent stock to make way for the new birds coming along, the ducks coming later and also any chicks I hatch out from breeding these WRs. This will be the first time I've ever sold birds to the public and it will be hard, imagining what kind of homes they may end up in. I'll just have to turn off my mind to that and give them over to the Lord, trusting that He will see them through their lives and take care of their day to day well-being.

I think one of my Dels is leaning towards a little broody behavior....I would LOVE it if she were so I could hatch out some WRs under her. I'm so ready to let the professionals get back to hatching the chicks.

Just curious, I know you said you listed the Hootie Hatch for sale? I would LOVE to have one or two after following this entire thread! I live in VA and was wondering how close we are? I'm in Giles Co. Thanks so much!

 

[Beekissed]

Just curious, I know you said you listed the Hootie Hatch for sale? I would LOVE to have one or two after following this entire thread! I live in VA and was wondering how close we are? I'm in Giles Co. Thanks so much!

They all sold to the same lady. I wish I had known that someone here would be interested because it would have been cool to check up on their progress. Darn it.

 

[luv2ride]

Sold the Hootie Bunch this morning. Took a last pic of them in the box before they left. The lady didn't care about how they were hatched or about much of anything, just wanted some chicks. Really puts things in perspective.....

When I told her how they were hatched she said, "Oh, really." in that way that lets you know she doesn't know what you are talking about... nor does she care.

I needed that!

Still haven't had time to finish this project and maybe I'm dragging my feet a little....don't want to lose all the wonderful people I've met on this thread. Sure wish you all would visit The Front Porch Swing after you leave here because I'm sure going to miss you all dearly.

Oops, just read this...darn it! Well, maybe I could be in on the next hatch? I just think this is all so awesome. I use a little giant incy and whomever of my girls goes broody. I'm still learning too, but wouldn't trade a minute of it. I LOVE hatching and seeing what combos I get. I so love the fuzzy butts and thank God I get to spend as much time with them as I do!

I'm so very Blessed!

 

[Zombified]

I have a thermometer and heat lamp. My grandpa had one of each. Thank goodness for grandpas, haha. The temp is currently at 95.5*F. It has a humidity reader, too, but I don't know how accurate it is. It says 36% right now.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

I have a thermometer and heat lamp. My grandpa had one of each. Thank goodness for grandpas, haha. The temp is currently at 95.5*F. It has a humidity reader, too, but I don't know how accurate it is. It says 36% right now.

You need to up the temp to around 101.5*

 

[Zombified]

Yeah, I lowered it after I posted. I'm gonna go check it again in a bit.

I candled and took out definite duds. I have five from Eris, the gold phase Welsh Harlequin duck, four from Thoth, the silver phase WH duck that disappeared, and three from Pyrrhos, my Mallard. She's now sitting on seven eggs.

All of Eris's are bouncing. All of Pyrrhos's are bouncing and alive. I *think* that one of Thoth's MIGHT be alive... But I really hage no clue and I'm not going to expect anything.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

Yeah, I lowered it after I posted. I'm gonna go check it again in a bit.

I candled and took out definite duds. I have five from Eris, the gold phase Welsh Harlequin duck, four from Thoth, the silver phase WH duck that disappeared, and three from Pyrrhos, my Mallard. She's now sitting on seven eggs.

All of Eris's are bouncing. All of Pyrrhos's are bouncing and alive. I *think* that one of Thoth's MIGHT be alive... But I really hage no clue and I'm not going to expect anything.

Good luck

 

[Cowpoke]

I have a thermometer and heat lamp. My grandpa had one of each. Thank goodness for grandpas, haha. The temp is currently at 95.5*F. It has a humidity reader, too, but I don't know how accurate it is. It says 36% right now.

Increase temp! 100-101