Home made Incubator?

[paulharvey]

We have 6 hens producing tons of eggs, but we also got a pair of ducks this spring. Low and behold we ended up with 1 male and 1 female. The female duck has started laying eggs that we assume are fertile; wife saw them doing the dirty when she was getting eggs. So, I'm pondering incubating say 6 duck eggs, in hopes of a couple making it. I know you can use a Styrofoam cooler and light bulb, but I'm wondering if anyone has practical advice of bulb sizing. I have a thermometer/hydrometer, and I understand I want 99.5% and 40-60% humidity. I know we will have to hand turn them. Anyone have much success doing something similar.

Yeah, I could buy a real incubator; but it seems the OK ones are $80, and I could just buy a lot of chick's and or duckling for that. Not trying to hatch a 100 eggs, just a few, I guess just to see if I can?

 

[2LaneCruzer]

https://www.google.com/search?q=hom...la:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb

 

[roadhunter]

Will the duck not hatch them naturally?

 

[paulharvey]

Will the duck not hatch them naturally?

No. They show zero interest in nesting, just like most modern chickens.

 

[aczlan]

Looking on the Gainsville Craigsist, I see a half dozen incubators for $10-250. Given that a temperature switch alone will probbaly run $30ish, I might look at a couple of those before making one...

Aaron Z