first time hatching ducks- just hatched chicks-what's the difference?

[prncssprplfrog]

How much different is hatching duck eggs than chicken. I know that they "cook" for a longer period, but what else?

I know people have varying opinions on humidity.
I'm a fan of lower humidity levels for the first 18 days for chicks & have read its a BIG no-no for ducks.

I won a Cayuga egg auction & have just enough time between chick hatches to clean & dry the incubator before they come in the mail....what's a few more animals right?

 

[Brickman House]

I just had a successful duck egg hatch (15 out of 17 hatched) in my King Suro. They were Pekin and Pekin crosses, including Pekin x Cayuga.

I ran the incubator at 99.5 F the whole hatch. 55% humidity for days 1-25, low 70's% for lockdown. The Suro held temperature and humidity dead on the entire time. Automatic egg turner did the work for me.

I've heard people say that duck eggs need misting, or that they don't do well in auto turners, but I did okay without misting, and the auto turner worked fine for me.

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[vlapinta]

You will get many opinions on this. I kept my humidity between 60 and 65%. Temperature was @99.5. I upped the humidity to 74% at lockdown. I had turned 3 times a day and the last turning at night I misted the eggs with a spray bottle of warm water. I also let the eggs cool down 10-15 minutes at night before I misted the eggs. This was my first hatch of call eggs.

Good Luck,
Vciki

 

[ancona91]

Hello Jenn!!!
It's Kathy from the "NY Chicken Lover" thread!!! Congrats on your Cayuga eggs coming in......a wonderul, beautiful,extremely hardy breed!!!! They were one of the first breeds I ever raised. You'll love them!!!
I keep the humidity at 55% for the first 17 days(at 65% if the eggs were washed prior to incubation,since the bloom was most likely washed off)........for lockdown I use a 75% humidity level. During the past 8+ years I've hatched hundreds of ducklings with an excellent hatch rate....about 90+ %. Waterfowl require higher humidity levels than chickens. If you have any questions, please feel free to email or PM me(anyone on this thread is welcome to do so........I'm always willing to help if at all possible).
Happy Hatching!!!!!
Kathy in Ellenville
P.S. Still willing to adopt your roos if you still have them!!!!!!!