Just returned from an auction wherein I bought a dozen "duck" eggs. Don't know type or any specifics except that the seller guaranteed that they were hatchable and laid this week so were fresh. I have only ever hatched chicks but there were NO chicken eggs to be had and darn it I was desperate! Can't find anyone local to keep me in hatching eggs so I gotta take what I can get. Any advice before I set them tomorrow? Heat/humidity comparable? I know length of incubation could be 28-35 days...any suggestions welcomed!
Can you borrow a rouen mallard hen? I always let the mama do it with ducks. She will become broody instantly when she sees the nest.
Basically, other than the fact that incubation is 28 days at a minimum, it's basically the same. Some people swear by NOT standing them on end during incubation, just letting them lay naturally and hand-turning them 3 or 4 times a day. Some people mist them once or twice a day with lukewarm water. Some also let them cool for about 10 minutes a day. All of that seems to be a matter of preference, others say they do nothing different with ducks than other birds and have great hatch rates. So, it's pretty much up to you. I will share the ONE main thing I learned from hatching my Rouen eggs -- they will pip on day 28, but it takes them AT LEAST 48 hours to hatch -- perfectly normal, so don't worry about it if it seems to be taking a long time. This is true of all Mallard-derived breeds. I can't speak to muscovy as I've never had those.
Thank you both for your replies! imfowl I do not, unfortunately, have access to a rouen hen. My sister does have a ducks at her place but I have no idea whether they would go "broody" upon seeing the eggs. May try it though just to see...what's to lose? Thanks again for the advice both of you!
Decided not to try to convince my sister's ducks to go broody...their coop stays moist and muddy due to a kiddie pool and don't want to ask her to make special arrangements just for my first duck hatch attempt. "Set" eggs in incubator a few minutes ago...so the countdown begins! I am nervous but I have faith in myself!
Duck eggs are easy. Remember today is day 1 and stop turning and lay flat at day 24. Keep the humidity around 55-60% during incubation and about 75% during lockdown. DO NOT CANDLE until day 14 or you will think they are all duds. Throw out the ones that don't develope because they will blow and it is the worst smell in the world! They should start to hatch at day 28 but it can take a few extra days. Muscovys do take 35 days but if that is what they were, the seller should have told you. The rest of the ducks is 28 days. This gives you a week to find some chicken eggs. You can put them in the bator 7 days after the ducks and they will hatch togather. Just be ready, ducks are 100X more messy than chicks!!!!!! Also, I incubate at 99.5 and drop to 98.5 for lockdown. With the higher humidity, it will kill some of the babies at pip. You will find that this works better even with the chicks.
