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Ca I mix duck and chicken eggs?

post #1 of 12
7/7/12 at 9:47am
Thread Starter 

I am about to start my first hatching in a genesis incubator 1588, can I mix chicken and duck eggs in the same hatch?

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post #2 of 12
7/7/12 at 10:00am

No and yes. Only because ducks take about 28 days to hatch and chickens take 21 days. Since you need to stop turning chicken eggs on day 18, and ducks on another you can hurt the both kinds of eggs. Because both eggs need to arange themselves in the proper position to pip the shell. If you stop on the 18 day for the chickens to pip you can hurt the duck eggs because they can stick to their shell membrane and die. If you continue turning for the duck eggs you will hurt the chicken eggs because they will never have a chance to arrange themselves to pip the shell and hatch. If you have seperate egg trays, and you can stop the chicken egg side of the turners from turning then yes you can incubate both at the same time. But this is only with certain incubators. The best way to hatch chicken and duck eggs at the same time is to have 2 seperate incubators.

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post #3 of 12
7/7/12 at 10:05am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by poultrycrazy711 View Post

No and yes. Only because ducks take about 28 days to hatch and chickens take 21 days. Since you need to stop turning chicken eggs on day 18, and ducks on another you can hurt the both kinds of eggs. Because both eggs need to arange themselves in the proper position to pip the shell. If you stop on the 18 day for the chickens to pip you can hurt the duck eggs because they can stick to their shell membrane and die. If you continue turning for the duck eggs you will hurt the chicken eggs because they will never have a chance to arrange themselves to pip the shell and hatch. If you have seperate egg trays, and you can stop the chicken egg side of the turners from turning then yes you can incubate both at the same time. But this is only with certain incubators. The best way to hatch chicken and duck eggs at the same time is to have 2 seperate incubators.

I see, thanks a lot for your information...

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post #4 of 12
7/7/12 at 9:44pm

Or, the real simple way is to just start the duck eggs a week before you add the chicken eggs. Then lock down and hatch coincide. Can't get much simpler than that.

You smell that? Do you smell that? Broody poop, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that.

I love the smell of broody poop in the morning.

It smells like... progeny

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You smell that? Do you smell that? Broody poop, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that.

I love the smell of broody poop in the morning.

It smells like... progeny

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post #5 of 12
7/7/12 at 10:15pm
I don't know much about hatching but I thought only Muscovy eggs take 28 days??
My swap page- http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/clucknpeck-swap
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My swap page- http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/clucknpeck-swap
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post #6 of 12
7/7/12 at 10:23pm

Muscovys are 35 days, all other ducks 28,

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post #7 of 12
7/7/12 at 11:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dbcooper02 View Post

Or, the real simple way is to just start the duck eggs a week before you add the chicken eggs. Then lock down and hatch coincide. Can't get much simpler than that.

I have done this and had good results with it. Actually under a broody chicken, but all the eggs hatched within 36 hours of each other.


Edited by JimnTer - 7/7/12 at 11:41pm
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post #8 of 12
7/8/12 at 10:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cypressdrake View Post

Muscovys are 35 days, all other ducks 28,
I see. Thank you!
My swap page- http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/clucknpeck-swap
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My swap page- http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/clucknpeck-swap
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post #9 of 12
7/8/12 at 10:22am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dbcooper02 View Post

Or, the real simple way is to just start the duck eggs a week before you add the chicken eggs. Then lock down and hatch coincide. Can't get much simpler than that.

Great idea... never thought about it...

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post #10 of 12
7/8/12 at 10:54am
The only problem is with each day the eggs stay at room temperature, is that they lose the possibility to hatch because of the possible bacterial contamination and lack of warmth. But if you already ordered the eggs that is a good idea.
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