duck incubation advice (fertile eggs?)

[monkey]

Hi I have some khaki campbell ducks, and just got an incubator from a friend. I have put four eggs in it, and the temperature is about 99degrees. We have two drakes and four females, and I was wondering if there was any reason why the eggs would or wouldn't be fertile. I also would like any advice or information about incubating and hatching duck eggs.

 

[Karen09]

There are threads all about this on BYC. The main thing I learned from reading them (cause I just put 28 in the incubator) is that you want the humidity higher than for chicken eggs (50 - 60%) and then the last 3 days around 70%. One said she sprays water from a plant-spray-type bottle of water on the eggs from day 4 to day 25. Also if the humidity is low, you can put a wet sponge in and it increases it. Almost too much. These are just a few things I learned from the other threads and from experience in the last few days. As far a fertility, one said if there is a drake, then they are fertile. Some say you need to have some kind of water pool so he can, but other say they will mate on land. I have a small tub 3 ft by 2 ft about 1 ft deep and they mate in there and I have seen him mate on land also. Hope that helps. I will know in about 8 days if they are fertile cause that is when I will be candling them.

 

[monkey]

thanks for the help. How many days do you have to wait before candling them?

 

[monkey]

I was also wondering how often to turn them. I have heard twice a day, but i don't know if this is right.

 

[FireTigeris]

Quote:
I would turn any eggs an odd number of times, either one if I was pressed for time, three normally. that way the same side isn't 'up' all night every night.

 

[Karen09]

Quote:
Many of the posts here said to candle at least day 4 or 5 but it is better to wait til day 7. I have also heard to wait til day 10. They also said you should only candle 3 times. I can't wait to have my friend come over and show me how to candle. I have read how, but it would be nice to have someone who is experienced helping.

 

[monkey]

What should the humidity be? Someone in this forum posted 50-60%, but I have read 80% online. right now they are at 55%.