Chicken & Duck Eggs in the same Bator?

[BGCNVLA]

Can you hatch chicken & duck eggs at the same time?

 

[4-H chicken mom]

You can incubate them at the same time, but I recommend having a seperate hatcher for the duck eggs because they need a higher humidity rate than chicks do the last three days.

 

[eggsellentfarms]

I did it several years ago in a cheap old still air Styrofoam incubator. It was my first attempt, but I had over 90% hatch rate of both chickens and ducks. It was a pretty low tech hatch, I just went by feel, so I can't tell you much about the humidity and temp. I believe I did mist the eggs some. I started the ducks first and then added the chickens one week later. I had a long hatch 24-36 hours between first and last, but other than that, very smooth.
One big mistake though, I brooded them all together. That went fine, but when they were all big enough to release into the flock, I lost most of the chicks because they followed their duckling "brothers" into the pool and drowned. Very sad.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

Well we will find out next month! lol I am setting my eggs tomorow. I have 7 leghorn eggs, and 3 runner duck eggs. I've done lots of researching on this, and this is what I've come up with.


Set ALL eggs on same day

days 1 - 18 temp. 99.5 and humidity 50%
days 19 - 21 temp. 99.5 and humidity 70% Lockdown & hatch for chickens
days 22 - 26 temp. 99.5 and humidity 65-70%
days 26 - 29 temp. 97.0 and humidity 80% Lockdown & hatch for ducks

Now day 19 is lockdown for the chickens. I have used another BYC members idea and 'made' two mini egg turners. This way I can still turn my duck eggs while not opening the bator, AND it's not automatic so the chickens won't get hurt after hatching! I control everything with the turner.

Now we just used the temp. & humidity ranges listed above for lockdown on our ducks, and we had a 100% hatch rate! We just need to make sure all chicken eggs are disinfected real good before putting them in the bator so the ducks don't get sick when they hatch!

WISH US LUCK! AND I'LL LET EVERYONE KNOW HOW IT GOES!