The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: faith0504 on June 26, 2011, 09:44:18 am

Title: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: faith0504 on June 26, 2011, 09:44:18 am

I took the bull by the horns and bought myself an incubator, it arrived yesterday so it now has some duck eggs in it, my long term plan is to but chicken eggs in it, so i can produce my own hens and meat birds, i so excited, the thought of home reared meat scares me a wee bit from a ending there lives point of view, but it is something i really want to have a crack at ;),

So im on my way, see how successful i  am with the duck eggs, then start exploring the different meat birds varieties.

Im like a big kid at the moment,  :wave:

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: jameslindsay on June 26, 2011, 09:58:14 am

Incubators are addictive and are great fun. Good luck and enjoy the experience. Remember ducklings are very messy and very smelly as much as they are cute. :)

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: faith0504 on June 26, 2011, 10:04:02 am

Thanks James, nice to have you back  :wave:

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: jameslindsay on June 26, 2011, 10:05:26 am

Quote from: faith0504 on June 26, 2011, 10:04:02 am

Thanks James, nice to have you back  :wave:

Thanks Faith  :wave:

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: daddymatty82 on June 26, 2011, 10:45:07 am

which inky did you invest in? well done on starting on the duck eggs the harder of the two chicken/duck eggs least then you will find it a breeze. how long did you let it warm up for? what temp you got it set at? i got mini eco 10 on the go atm with 6 pekin eggs in and 6 under a broody. 6 in inky look to be only 3 viable by a quick candle last night not to good but hey ho. glad you got the bug

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: Sylvia on June 26, 2011, 04:41:24 pm

One of my grearest pleasures is hatching and rearing chicks/ducklings/goslings etc. You will have such fun with your incubator :) :) :chook:

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: doganjo on June 26, 2011, 05:17:05 pm

I'd love to do it again, but can't run the risk of having cockerels or more drakes.

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: faith0504 on June 26, 2011, 05:22:41 pm

Hiya, i have put duck eggs in as they were what i had the ducks are showing no signs of wanting to sit on them so in for a penny in for a pound, we will see what happens, i had the incubator on all day yesterday warming up the eggs went in last night the temp is set a 37.5.

I got everything crossed i will candle them in 10 days or so and see what is happening, its very eggciting  ;) :wave:

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: Dizzycow on June 26, 2011, 05:42:05 pm

Good for you, it is so much fun! I've got duck eggs on the go, and yes, ducklings smell appalling! I clean mine out twice a day at the moment, pooooo. Have fun!

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: Eastling on June 26, 2011, 07:52:39 pm

My OH has just started, our landshare lady has given us eggs from her chickens. sultans and brahams. So we will see what hatches  :D

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: doganjo on June 26, 2011, 08:43:07 pm

Remember duck eggs have a thicker membrane and need higher humidity, even in Scotland! ::)  I lost a few of mine both before and during hatching because I didn't realise that.

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: faith0504 on June 27, 2011, 08:42:38 am

Hi Doganjo, thank you for that,  :wave:

Title: Re: I have invested in an incubator
Post by: faith0504 on July 06, 2011, 11:53:43 am

so far so good, i have candled the eggs and out of 20, 13 are viable,

I cant believe how addictive it is, im like a broody duck i keep going looking at them and now life is developing inside them its amazing, i found it fascinating candling them

Very eggciting  :wave: