Duck egg help! I'm so nervous.

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Thermometers can be very frustrating and inaccurate. I've had my own issues with them during hatching as well. Are you sure the one in there right now is accurate? I'd be careful turning it up too much if you aren't 100% sure. Usually, lower temperatures slow down hatching. I googled it because I was curious exactly how much it was slowed down, and apparently, it's about 5.4 hours longer for every 1/2 a degree.

 

[DuckMom888]

So I got another thermometer and have both in. My machine says 101.6 which is terrifying but both thermometers are reading at 89 degrees. I'm debating leaving it at that because it scares me to go much higher especially since it would be such a temperature shot up for these ducks. I don't know what to do any advice?

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

What kind/brand of incubator is it? Some are known for having very unstable temperatures. The most important thing is to make sure the thermometer is correct. If it is really at 89 degrees you can put the incubator in something like a plastic storage container and/or cover it with towels to conserve the heat. I wouldn't make too many drastic changes at this point of incubation. Since they are developing and still alive at the previous temperature I would personally just leave it at that setting. But if the temperature is really dropping all the way down to 89 the heating element on your incubator might be failing. Hopefully the thermometer is just wrong though. One of my incubators completely shut off and stopped working during hatching once. Thankfully it was towards the end, so it wasn't too bad. I ended up putting a heat lamp over it to keep it warm.

 

[DuckMom888]

It's a Amazon buy IBKINXX. We didn't have a ton to spend on a incubator, so this one had great reviews so we gave it a shot but this is my first time incubating and I'm understanding the importance now of why a better brand would definitely be ideal. So I had 3 thermometers. Seems like the top is reading correctly, one is reading more the middle of the incubator temp and then I layed one down by the eggs and got a lower temp. So I'm guessing it is not distributing the air and heat like it should. I did just order a great reviewed digital thermometer that should be here tomorrow morning that I can put in their for a more trusted reading. I'm slowly raising the temp so I don't shock the poor babies. I'm just praying they will be ok. We did put some towels around it and keeping a close eye on the temp. Looks like no sleep for me for awhile. I swear I have been waking up like every 2-3 hours just to check on them waiting to see some kind of change.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Ok good! Praying everything turns out ok! Please let us know!

 

[DuckMom888]

I'll keep you up to date, thanks for all the help.

 

[My15Ducks]

Don’t give up. Hopefully your hatch will just be delayed. Govee brand thermometers are pretty good.

If you have a non slip liner on your incubator floor, that can reduce wiggling during hatch

 

[DuckMom888]

I do have the non-slip liner in. I did candle most of them last night through the incubator and two were questionable but have always been a little questionable and the rest I did see some movement, shadowing that moved all along the bottom of the egg. I got the digital this morning in the unit and it says 98.4 with 69 humidity, another one I have in says 94 but that one I don't trust as much and the machine is at 101.4. I keep trying to raise it but it seems to not want to go any higher. I have blankets around it to help insulate but still allowing the ventilation hole to be unobstructed. This is just nauseating to see that their still moving but not know developmentally where they are at and if they will be ok.

 

[atomic]

I’m a first time hatcher and I had similar issues (also an amazon incubator called sailnova) my ducks didn’t hatch til day 30-31 and I had to assist with chipping away at the shell. All had issues with standing up and raising their heads but with a little time they are all perfect little ducklings now.

 

[My15Ducks]

If you have an oral mercury thermometer those are usually pretty accurate