One last go.

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duggat

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Finally I have admitted defeat with the failed runner eggs in the incubator. They are out and waiting for my husband to do autopsies on them. (I am too squeamish)
I now have 7 more runner eggs and want to have one last go at hatching them.
I spent all evening trying to research more about artificial incubation and have now become even more confused with what is best.
I have read differing views on everything so.........

Is it better to have a still air incubator or a forced air one?

What is the ideal temp for both types?

What should the humidity be?

Would anyone recommend dry incubation till lock down?

Any help that may give my a successful hatch will be brilliant
 
Hi,
So sorry this didn't work for you.I've only done it once (I got 4 live runners from 6 eggs) I used a very basic Covatutto incubator with still air and maual turning.
Temp 37.5
I did incubate with about 50% humidity from memory( a couple of years ago now) but subsequently neighbours with vast experiance told me they always incubate dry until the last 3 days as the air here in the high Yorkshire Dales is very humid.
I found it all quite stressful and haven't done it again but have kept the inci "just in case".
My query would be: are you confident that your egg supplier is giving you quality eggs from quality parents(no inbreeding) and the eggs have been stored well before getting to you. I bought mine from http://www.poplarfarmcottage.com and they travelled through the postal service. There is another forum member who has just had a successful hatch from some purchased on Ebay who I'm sure would be happy to let you know where she got hers.
I would change my supplier for your next try. How many attempts have you had?
 
Fingers crossed for you Dorsetduckowner.
Newtoducks, this was my first try. Your points are very interesting.
My incubator is very basic with manual turning but it does have a fan.
I might try the dry method unless Manchester is not very humid. Anyone know?
These eggs are from a different seller and I am picking them up locally as opposed to the Ebay ones I got through the post. Your right about it being stressful and if it doesn't work out this time I will be definitely giving up.
 
Hi again,
I got a hygrometer/thermometer from ebay and this says that my kitchen is around 60% most of the time. Have you access to one like this or is yours fixed to the inci? Either way it will be giving you a reading of the dry conditions. I was obsessed about the humidity and then found out after the event that there must be quite an acceptable variation as many people do incubate dry. I think your problem was probably the eggs not anything you did wrong. Good luck for this try-keep us posted-what colour runners are they?
What breed are you incubating Dorsetduckowner?
 
When I incubate runner ducks I keep the humidity at around 35% the first two weeks, then 40% until the last few days when I increase to 60% then when they start to hatch up to about 70%.

Usually on hatching they humidity shoots up high anyhow. I incubate my own eggs and have normally about 90% hatch rate.

I have had good results with the Octagon 20 (advance) you can buy these on ebay for a reasonable amount, would recommend one with the humidity pump for hatching ducks though. ;)
 
Hi I do have a hygrometer/thermometer and with the last try I was paranoid about humidity and admit that maybe I kept it too high all the way along.
I have had the incubator running and the temp is fine but the humidity in the incubator is not even high enough to make a reading!
The incubator has a fan; is that why it is so dry in there? The gauge is in the incubator.
I was hoping to set the eggs tonight or tomorrow morning so advice on this would be really helpful.
Can I put the eggs in and run it dry or should I try and get the humidity up a bit.
With this one it is so basic I use a sponge which I keep damp. Any other ideas?
I would love to know what a humidity pump is too.
 
Hi,
what incubator are you using? I'm surprised the hygrometer is not registering any humidity-is it working? Spray inside the inci to try and assess whether or not it's working.
Sorry don't know about humidity pumps.
I've been looking on the internet to update myself and there are so many differing opinions on humidity. All I can suggest is:check the hygrometer is working, if indeed it is very dry where you are then add wet sponges, and then cross your fingers.
 
Hi Newtoducks. The incubator is a Chirpychicks polysterene one I bought off Ebay. I have just put a wet sponge in it and the humidity is rising.
The instructions that came with it says to leave it dry till lockdown but I am worried that it may be too dry for ducks.
Unless anyone can tell me it would be wrong; I am going to put the eggs in and keep it dry till lockdown.
What if I spray them with water every couple of days to mimic the mother duck?
 
Hi, Had a quick look on Ebay but can't see one on there at the moment. I don't see why you shouldn't give the eggs the odd spray with water-I've seen that some people recommend it.
I know it's very easy to get quite stressed about the process as there is so much conflicting advice out there. I hope that now you've got eggs from a different supplier you'll get better results this time.
Pop them in!
 
Hi guys, I just thought I'd put my two pennies worth in.

I bought my eggs off ebay, the details are on my blog http://indianrunnerducks.tumblr.com/

I used a incubator with a fan as per the photo in the blog.

I turned the eggs 3 times a day religiously, 8am, 5pm & 12am. I set the repetitive alarm on my iphone to quack every time for 26 days then leave them for the final 2 days.

I had a manual and an electronic thermometer in the incubator, they both read approximately 37.4 degrees.

I kept the humidity at anywhere between 50% & 70% for the first 26 days then I cranked it up to 80% for the final 2.

I candled the eggs once at 7 days and once at about 2 weeks, that was it.

I hatched 6 out of 6 indian runners, 1 of which had to be helped as it got stuck, he's fine now though!

I don't know whether it was just a fluke or I did it perfectly?!
 
This humidity question is very interesting, isn't it? How much is is species- related, I wonder? For quails, incubating dry is definitely what works, you would expect that for a bird that in the wild would live in semi- desert environments. But you would think that, when a mother duck plonks herself back on the eggs after a little swim and a potter around in wet reeds etc, she would have a very damp breast, and this combined with a wet river bank as a base for the nest, would contribute to high humidity for the eggs under natural conditions. Red Face's 100% success with high humidity would suggest this works for ducks. But I have read many chicken keepers incubate successfully at a much lower humidity than 50-70%. Maybe, given good fertile eggs and reasonably stable temperatures, they are actually not too fussy about humidity, s long as its high enough when they're trying to hatch?
What was the result of the autopsies, Duggat? If the eggs weren't fertile, there is no reason to suppose you wont have a successful hatch next time.
 
Wet/dry; I really do not know what to do for the best. My other dilemma is that finally my female mallard has now started sitting other than a couple of hours a day.
Having said that, she has been laying since early Feb and in different places but then then will not sit on her clutches.
My original idea was to swap her eggs for the runners as I know she has been a good mum in the past but until I can be assured she will sit properly; I am left with the artificial road.
Its now nearly 3pm and she has never sat this long!
What should I do?
Take a chance to put them under my mallard?
Put in the inc and run dry?
Put in the inc and keep the humidity up a bit?
Marigold they have not been autopsied yet as hubby will not have the time or energy till weekend.
Who said duck keeping was easy?????
 
Why not put them under her if she is still sitting tomorrow, but keep the inci running up to temperature, and with medium humidity, in case you need to transfer them if she deserts?
And come in, just crack open those eggs, for your own peace of mind, its not a big deal really!
 
Good idea Marigold. Duh; I am so thick sometimes.
I will wait till tomorrow afternoon and hope. It will be better if she hatches them as I want more ducks but do not want my drake mating with his offspring. Hopefully if I get at least one female he will have company when she starts sitting next year as he is like a little lost soul at the moment.
I have heard that runners are not renowned for being maternal and that suits me fine.
Marigold I cannot do the cracking! I would just die if I saw fully developed ducklings in the eggs and know that I was too blame. Somehow I feel I could bear the sad news broken to me by someone else.
I will fill you in tomorrow and let you know what happens.
Sorry; another question. How easy is it to swap one lot of eggs under a duck for others? Will me doing it disturb her and make her desert her clutch?
 
I have the opposite problem, my incubator is fully automatic, I feel helpless I cannot fiddle with any of it!!! Probably a good thing!
 
Well; my duck is very much sitting!
As far as the runner duck eggs.....only one showed progress.
Ditch the infertile ones and sneaked the one that showed signs of development under her.
Trouble is that I have left some of her own eggs with her to keep her sitting and they are a couple of days ahead of the lone runner egg.
Will it work or will she leave the later egg?
Just acquired 6 more eggs from a different source.
This IS my final attempt......maybe?
 
Hi,
Only one fertile??? Crikey, hope these new 6 get on better. As to mummy duck I suppose only time will tell-I've no idea if she will sit on it for the extra couple of days but if not maybe in the incubator for a couple of days? not ideal but better than doing nothing.
Fingers and toes crossed this works out for you.
 
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