duck eggs

[allquackedup]

Our mallards have decided to start laying eggs. We started gathering seven days ago. We have six we brought into the house. Turning several times a day. Question is how long can we keep them at room temp before we need to go ahead and incubate. Trying to gather as many as possible to incubate.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I wouldn't go beyond 10 days. You can always do a staggered hatch in the bator. I do it all the time with good results.

 

[Wifezilla]

A week is good. After that your fertility will start to drop. You can push it to two weeks and still get viable eggs, but after that you are seriously pushing your luck.

 

[CityChicker]

If you keep them somewhat cool, they can remain viable for a *long* time, several weeks actually. That said, they are the most viable in the first 7-10 days. After two weeks, their ability to hatch begins to drop dramatically. Most people try to set them in the first week or so. I have pretty regularly set eggs up to about 2.5 weeks old with still pretty good success. Of course, keep in mind, ducks eggs are harder to hatch than chicken eggs to begin with and fertility is usually lower this time of year.

 

[allquackedup]

Ok answered our own question. We get/make a hatcher.....How do you control humidity at the end with out harming the later set eggs?
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