First duck eggs

[albinosilver]

I set half a dozen Cayuga eggs in the incubator on April 1st. This will be my first ever experience with ducks. I’ve only hatched chicks and quail so far.

Any tips for hatching and raising ducklings?

Thanks!

 

[Tannerpauldean]

Congratulations on the first set of duck eggs!

My only advice is be prepared for the mess when they are ducklings. Go ahead and start thinking now about how you are going to keep it dry in the brooder. They will splash water EVERYWHERE. There are a few different ways to go about that, and this time around I am going to try using a baking pan w/ a cooling rack to catch the water. Never done it before but I have read where some others have had great success. Good luck!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I can only agree to what @Tannerpauldean wrote. Ducklings are messy! I had fourteen Spring Ducklings in my home office for two weeks this year. After those two weeks they went into a makeshift brooder in the garage because it got too messy.
I wrote an article about them, there's a media album and a discussion thread.
I would love to hatch some quail one day, their chicks are so tiny, fragile and cute. And i love quail eggs!

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...e-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements.242460/

 

[TheAmundsons]

I agree with what everyone has said about ducklings being messy, but that also continues past when they are ducklings! We currently have our chickens and ducks in the same coop, because they were in the brooder together. They are all just over a year old, and get along great! We have to keep the water in the run outside thought because the ducks need to be able to clean their eyes and nares in the water, which means there is a good amount of water spilling, and we obviously didn't want that in the coop!

We made a nest box for our two duck hens, but they really just lay wherever they feel like it, and it can change everyday! We absolutely love our ducks, they are just messy!

 

[albinosilver]

How old do ducklings need to be before moving outside?

 

[Miss Lydia]

They should be feathered in unless your suppling a heat source. 5-weeks on if not. Duckling can’t regulate their body temps until feathered.

 

[albinosilver]

Day 5 and 4/6 eggs showings signs of life!

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[albinosilver]

Day 10. Giving the eggs their daily mist and cooling. They are all developing great! The 2 with the bigger circle I added on day 5 after I took out 2 that were infertile.