Very Confused Still About Incubator/Egg Turner

[cracking up]

You can use anything for as brooder as long as they're warm and draft free. For ducks it's best to have something you can easily clean.

I have the same incubator Katharinad is recommending and I love it.

 

[katharinad]

You don't need to buy an expensive one. I've build mine in a small shipping crate. Call some local moving companies, because they give used ones away for free. You are looking for an unaccompanied household crate. They get shipped ahead of the rest of the household to get people started when they come back from overseas. Should fit in a regular car. I don't like to use the red heat lamps at all. They can explode if the ducks splash water onto it. I use just a regular white light bulb from 2 feet above. You start off with 90 watts and reduce the wattage as you need less heat until you hit 40 watts. After that they don't need it anymore. You watch the ducks behavior. They move away from the light, they need less heat. They huddle with each other, they need more. They should be down to 40 watts within 2 weeks. After that you need to offer it at night for another week or two.

 

[duckluv]

Yes you can but you should put some chicken wire around it so they don't hop out.

 

[cracking up]

I agree (again) about the red bulbs. I had one explode when a drop of water hit it and it was a real panic trying to get it out before the curious little ducks got burned or cut. I ended up with a couple of burns on my hands but that was the best option I had at the time.

You have a while to go before you think about brooding. And my incubator took at least a week to get here - I was surprised it took longer than I expected.

 

[katharinad]

Box is 2 feet deep and lined with a plastic sheet. Do not put the ducks on plastic, because it will hurt their joints. I use pee wee pads and cotton towels. First picture shows the top with the two dog crate doors. Easy access from both sides. Keeps our cat out and the light sits on top.

Picture two shows the feeding/water setup on a cookies sheet with a paper towel below. The two ducks are only 3 days old and prefer a food mash (feed in water). I've also put the dry feed next to it and they are starting to eat it too. The mash is only temporary. The water feeder is in another plastic bowl to catch water. I've just cleaned it and there it is poo!!!! LOL You also see the dog training pads below it. It makes it a breeze to clean and they cannot slip on them either. The box is lined with heavy duty plastic and you can see the tape on the edges.

Picture three shows the other end of it with 100 watt lamp and cotton towel in the corner to sleep on it. 100 watts give them 90 degrees on the floor level. Just a regular light bulb, which I can reduce as needed.

 

[FunnyBunnies12]

Just ONE MORE question, what would happen if anything if I started the incubator I have now, hand turned them until the one I order comes in, then clean the one really good then return it. Will that pose a problem to the developing embroy's if any? I don't see that it would, but wanted to make sure. Thanks in advance!

 

[FunnyBunnies12]

Sweet, I can build one of those using Organize It Cubes that you find in Housewares, I make my bunny cages out of those! I will use the wee pads too! Now to hope and pray something will come of this once incubation takes place.

 

[katharinad]

Quote:
Why don't you let her produce eggs until the other incubator comes in. That way you have a bunch to hatch. Remember not all will hatch. You are hoping for 50-70%, so it is better to but in more eggs.

 

[katharinad]

Quote:
You can also get a really large plastic storage bin. At least that one can get cleaned easily and you can use it for something else later on. I had a 1 foot deep crate sitting around from a shipment I've received and used the dog crate doors I had as well and some scrap lumber. The final brooder cost me nothing.

 

[FunnyBunnies12]

You are so awesome!! Thank you so much, I will listen to you oh wise one!

TSC better take back the incubator! It's not used. Now, with the drake not mating with her as much and seems to be slowing down in agression does that mean or could it mean soon she will stop laying? Wasn't there somewhere I read that they have to be on the same cycle to be fertile or something like that?