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Duck egg humidity question

post #1 of 8
4/15/09 at 5:10pm
Thread Starter 

I have a broody White Rock hen sitting on a variety of 5 duck eggs.  She has been on them now for 14 days.  I candled them at day 8 and saw veins so all seems to be going well.  Should I do anything about the humidity issue?  I figure mother nature always knows best, but she is a chicken, what will she know about duck eggs?  I know plenty of hens have been used to hatch eggs other than their own, including duck eggs.  I just never gave the humidity issue a thought before.  What do you think? hu

Be kind to your web footed friends! (and your other friends too!)

1 Barred Rock hen,  5 Runner ducks, 1 Mallard duck, 2 Pekin ducks,2 cayuga ducklings, 3 khaki ducklings, 3 toulouse geese,  pair of peafowl, 3 dogs, 1 horse, 3 cats, 1 rabbit and 1 daughter (whew)
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Be kind to your web footed friends! (and your other friends too!)

1 Barred Rock hen,  5 Runner ducks, 1 Mallard duck, 2 Pekin ducks,2 cayuga ducklings, 3 khaki ducklings, 3 toulouse geese,  pair of peafowl, 3 dogs, 1 horse, 3 cats, 1 rabbit and 1 daughter (whew)
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post #2 of 8
4/15/09 at 5:22pm
  • asher
  • Chicken Enabler Extraordinaire

I know a few people that I gave duck eggs to gave them to their chickens to brood and they had no problems at all. Not sure how, but they are way better at it than we are! hehe Good luck!

Cindy ~ proud USPS Mail Carrier!
Mom to 5 kids! Keeper of 2 dogs, 4 lion head rabbits & 5 silkie chickens
Foster fur mama to many! Rescue. Adopt. Volunteer. Educate!!!
PLEASE have your pets spay or neutered!

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Cindy ~ proud USPS Mail Carrier!
Mom to 5 kids! Keeper of 2 dogs, 4 lion head rabbits & 5 silkie chickens
Foster fur mama to many! Rescue. Adopt. Volunteer. Educate!!!
PLEASE have your pets spay or neutered!

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post #3 of 8
4/15/09 at 5:36pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks asher.  I guess I just needed some reassurance of that.  I'd like to believe that the birds really do know more about hatching eggs than I do!lol

Be kind to your web footed friends! (and your other friends too!)

1 Barred Rock hen,  5 Runner ducks, 1 Mallard duck, 2 Pekin ducks,2 cayuga ducklings, 3 khaki ducklings, 3 toulouse geese,  pair of peafowl, 3 dogs, 1 horse, 3 cats, 1 rabbit and 1 daughter (whew)
Reply
Be kind to your web footed friends! (and your other friends too!)

1 Barred Rock hen,  5 Runner ducks, 1 Mallard duck, 2 Pekin ducks,2 cayuga ducklings, 3 khaki ducklings, 3 toulouse geese,  pair of peafowl, 3 dogs, 1 horse, 3 cats, 1 rabbit and 1 daughter (whew)
Reply
post #4 of 8
4/15/09 at 6:14pm

What is the humidity outside??? smile

2 dogs, 3 cats, 17 ducks, 2 geese, 1 turkey, a lot of  chickens, several tropical fish, and 3 goldfish! This is one crazy little farm!
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2 dogs, 3 cats, 17 ducks, 2 geese, 1 turkey, a lot of  chickens, several tropical fish, and 3 goldfish! This is one crazy little farm!
Reply
post #5 of 8
4/15/09 at 7:03pm
Thread Starter 

It's been unusually dry here for spring.  Although it's still cold and there is still some snow on the ground in places, the fire danger is extremely high because we've had no rain and lots of wind.  If it continues to stay dry should I be concerned?

Be kind to your web footed friends! (and your other friends too!)

1 Barred Rock hen,  5 Runner ducks, 1 Mallard duck, 2 Pekin ducks,2 cayuga ducklings, 3 khaki ducklings, 3 toulouse geese,  pair of peafowl, 3 dogs, 1 horse, 3 cats, 1 rabbit and 1 daughter (whew)
Reply
Be kind to your web footed friends! (and your other friends too!)

1 Barred Rock hen,  5 Runner ducks, 1 Mallard duck, 2 Pekin ducks,2 cayuga ducklings, 3 khaki ducklings, 3 toulouse geese,  pair of peafowl, 3 dogs, 1 horse, 3 cats, 1 rabbit and 1 daughter (whew)
Reply
post #6 of 8
4/19/09 at 4:53am
Thread Starter 

Since my post dropped like a rock and I have a little over a week before hatching I would like to see if anyone else has any thoughts on this.  flcaf  I have read where you are supposed to mist the eggs if a chicken is setting them.  Unfortunatly the article I read didn't give any other information on that.  I would appreciate any advice, thank you.  big_smile  (P.S., I know it's spring and a lot of people have incubation questions---good luck everyone!)

Be kind to your web footed friends! (and your other friends too!)

1 Barred Rock hen,  5 Runner ducks, 1 Mallard duck, 2 Pekin ducks,2 cayuga ducklings, 3 khaki ducklings, 3 toulouse geese,  pair of peafowl, 3 dogs, 1 horse, 3 cats, 1 rabbit and 1 daughter (whew)
Reply
Be kind to your web footed friends! (and your other friends too!)

1 Barred Rock hen,  5 Runner ducks, 1 Mallard duck, 2 Pekin ducks,2 cayuga ducklings, 3 khaki ducklings, 3 toulouse geese,  pair of peafowl, 3 dogs, 1 horse, 3 cats, 1 rabbit and 1 daughter (whew)
Reply
post #7 of 8
4/6/12 at 2:21am

I am interested in how your duck eggs hatched in the end? My hen is sitting on 3 eggs, I have dabbed them with water on a couple of days as someone told me that the mother duck is naturally wet from the pond and so ducklings need higher humidity... but I figured mother duck might not swim is she is sitting. So do I need to continue with water? I don't want my hen to get a damp bottom, after all, she is a land bird not a water bird. D.gif

 

thanks. Wendy x

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post #8 of 8
4/6/12 at 4:04am

I would just leave them alone, the chicken doesn't know it's sitting on duck eggs and the ducks don't know that a chicken is sitting on them so let them be. Over the years chickens and ducks and everything else that hatches from an egg have been doing a pretty good job not worring about temps and humidity, they just do what they do. Any pics?

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Baycounty Bullys On Facebook      Ban The Deed Not The Breed     Say No To Bsl

 

my byc page  http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chickens-1

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