ELeVan ~ Honaker Farm Journal

[elevan]

The temperature inside of the eggs was probably not 102*. It takes a while for them to warm to that temperature inside. I wouldn't get too worried unless the temperature was over 105*. I have heard of one person who hatched duck eggs and had a spike of 114* and his eggs still hatched.

Oh, good! My thermostat only has a range of 90-105*, so I shouldn't have any cooked eggs then?

I'm having problems keeping the humidity to 55%...it's staying at 45% and if I add a sponge in there to increase it then it's at 70%. GAH! What's the deal with humidity and duck eggs?

 

[redtailgal]

Em, try adding a dampened magic eraser or washcloth instead, it will release a little less humidity than a sponge.

 

[elevan]

Life with boys.

I think your eggs will be ok.

Did you threaten him with death and dismemberment? lol, my son once got into the molasses.......he was supposed to be napping, but woke up while I was in the shower. He took a quart of molasses and poured into a pound of sugar and then "painted" with it. My walls, my table, my cabinet, my fridge...the windows.

My other son turned off my brooder once, I found three bitties smothered in the bottom of the pile. As I worked on the living bitties, I told my then 5 year old that if he ever touched my brooder again it would be death and dismemberment for him . He laughed at me. The next day he told his Sunday school teacher that I said if he did it again I would just kill him and disremember him.

*note: I am NOT an abusive parent. I would definately not kill and disremember anyone.

I didn't threatened him, but I made it clear to him that messing with the knobs was the same as taking the eggs out and smashing them - killing baby ducks! My boys both understand death to the ninth degree and it mortified him that he might have killed baby ducks.

 

[elevan]

Em, try adding a dampened magic eraser or washcloth instead, it will release a little less humidity than a sponge.

Ok. But do you know the "rule" for humidity for duck eggs? What range is acceptable?

 

[redtailgal]

I know absolutely nothing about duck eggs.

I'd guess 55 to 60% and then bumping it up to around 75% when they pip. But that's a guess.

 

[Sunny & the 5 egg layers]

45% Humidity should be fine, in my opinion.

 

[Sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Em, try adding a dampened magic eraser or washcloth instead, it will release a little less humidity than a sponge.

Ok. But do you know the "rule" for humidity for duck eggs? What range is acceptable?

If you ask 10 different people, they will give you 10 different answers as to what humidity is acceptable. It is really just a personal choice. In my opinion 45% humidity is perfect.

 

[elevan]

If you ask 10 different people, they will give you 10 different answers as to what humidity is acceptable. It is really just a personal choice. In my opinion 45% humidity is perfect.

That is so true!

So, I'll just keep my fingers crossed that I have a successful hatch then

 

[Queen Mum]

I suspect the mama duck doesn't monitor the humidity it that closely and as she shifts around, the humidity may vary as much as 10 to 15 percent from time to time so you are probably safe.

Death and dismemberment are probably pretty safe threats for a child. If a teacher doesn't understand that and interpret it correctly she needs to NOT be teaching.

 

[redtailgal]

Queenmum: The teacher is an excellent teacher! She understood and teases me about it to this day, lol.

I was curious, so I Googled incubating duck eggs, and the general concensus is 45 to 55% with a raise to 80-90% when they pip. I think you are ok, too.

Cant wait to see your baby duck!