Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[carcar80]

Ducklover I stay "dry" until around week three.. Then fill up just the troughs in my LG but don't freak if they dry up. At lockdown this time I filled troughs to the brim and then I put soaking wet rags alongside the eggs. I spray my eggs a few times a day as well, whenever my "instinct" says too lol. Usually when I open the bator to spray, I'll pour a little more water onto the rags so they stay visibly soaked.

I don't measure my humidity, that's why I didn't answer sooner.. I go by my windows, I like for them to have a good bit of condensation on them. Not fully covered but the edges at least.

 

[carcar80]

Oh and for temp, I try to come down to ~98.5 once they pip externally. But if it stays at 99.5 i don't really worry as long as it's no hotter. Funny, this hatch the temp seemed to drop at that time on its own. Humidity also seems to rise more as a chick or two comes out, I thought.

My first pip was Saturday evening and first babies hatched today, so don't get upset just because it's been >24* since pip!! Hatching takes a looooonggggg tiiimeeeeeee..........

Disclaimer: this hatch I'm doing now is only my third, and only my second "proper" (as in, with a real incubator) hatch.. So I'm certainly not claiming my way is correct.. Just what's working for me.

 

[carcar80]

Quackers! LOLOL at all those phone calls. Ha! Too funny!!

 

[ducklover87]

I don't dry hatch here, so hopefully someone else can pop in and give you advice. Remember that will the fan out, you're going to have hot spots and cold spots. Make sure to move the eggs around the bator a bit.

Thanks! I move them around sometimes but will start moving them around more.

 

[ducklover87]

Ducklover I stay "dry" until around week three.. Then fill up just the troughs in my LG but don't freak if they dry up. At lockdown this time I filled troughs to the brim and then I put soaking wet rags alongside the eggs. I spray my eggs a few times a day as well, whenever my "instinct" says too lol. Usually when I open the bator to spray, I'll pour a little more water onto the rags so they stay visibly soaked.

I don't measure my humidity, that's why I didn't answer sooner.. I go by my windows, I like for them to have a good bit of condensation on them. Not fully covered but the edges at least.

My bator holds humidity really well and doesn't take much to put it up there so should I go ahead and fill them now?

Oh and for temp, I try to come down to ~98.5 once they pip externally. But if it stays at 99.5 i don't really worry as long as it's no hotter. Funny, this hatch the temp seemed to drop at that time on its own. Humidity also seems to rise more as a chick or two comes out, I thought.

My first pip was Saturday evening and first babies hatched today, so don't get upset just because it's been >24* since pip!! Hatching takes a looooonggggg tiiimeeeeeee..........

Disclaimer: this hatch I'm doing now is only my third, and only my second "proper" (as in, with a real incubator) hatch.. So I'm certainly not claiming my way is correct.. Just what's working for me.

OK so I will turn it down just a smidgen. I've heard it takes a long time so I'll have to be patient. Thank you for the feedback.

 

[carcar80]

Six babies out now.. I think the most recent must have hatched right before I woke up because it is TOTALLY spent! Looking a little better each time I look though.

Two to go!!

 

[qwackers]

Here they are.. two of the pekins and the lone Mallard. So five more Pekins on the way. AND! Can I say how PROUD of myself I am, that I have not even laid a FINGER on the bator.

Woooohoooo! Congrats. They are soo cute. I'm sad mine are getting so big already! Go you for not getting your hands in there. Wish I was that restrained but mine are happy and healthy so no harm done! Good luck with the last 2! What type of ducks are they? Sorry you probably said.

 

[carcar80]

Seven Pekin.. Plus the one mallard.

 

[qwackers]

I'm such a dumbo I even quoted what they were, duh! I've got 2 runners that have mallard colouring. I'm wondering what they will look like.

 

[carcar80]

LOL!! I didn't even notice.