Hatching baby ducks?

[Lowerbarn]

OK, so i have been giving some serious thought now to hatching some of the eggs that the ducks are producing, and i have looked at many sites online which all give you plenty of information on what to do and what you need etc, but i wondered if there were any real world stories from other owners that would be more helpful, especially in answering a few questions i cant find the answers to

I have a flock of 10, various different breeds, and only 1 male, who is a typical mallard colour runner, and i guess one of my first questions, would there be any negative outcome to him mating with other breeds, does it make anything more difficult? i have other runners, and i know they are laying blue eggs so i can confidently pick out those as being full runner breeds, but i have a few Aylesbury as well, and of course only a male runner.

My other question is how hard / easy is it to actually have success? as i say, all websites i have found so far have the process and info, but not really telling you actually how difficult the process is, how involved, or a general success rate, not just for eggs that produce nothing, but also for ducklings that hatch and don't make it etc

And the equipment, they all tell you the same kind of thing, but have you found anything you bought and didn't need, or indeed didn't buy and would have made life easier?

Any real world advice and info would be greatly welcomed, obviously the aim would be to do this soon while we have the warmer weather to help get them out and in the flock as early as possible

 

[MillersFarm]

@chickens really has been hatching out ducks for a while and knows a whole lot more than me.

But when I started incubating ducks eggs I found my success rates much higher than my chicken hatches. I use a forced air incubator and keep it at 37.5C (99.5F) and keep the humidity between 47% - 52% I also keep my duck eggs on their sides and hand- turn them around 4-5 times a day. On lock-down (Day 25) You don't have to turn them anymore and I spike my humidity up no higher than 65% After that it's pretty much a waiting game. Ducklings love to take their time while hatching so I wouldn't start freaking out if it's been a day or 2 past hatching day. After my ducklings are all hatched out I put them in a large plastic tote with pine shaving in it, A regular feeder and a plastic milk jug with 2 or 3 holes in it just big enough for them to fit their heads in and get a drink. Ducklings are pretty messy and grow Very fast so I would clean their brooder out pretty much every day

As a little warning, Once you start incubating duck eggs you're not going to want to stop. I only started out with 6 ducks, Now I have over 50 with more on the way

 

[chickens really]

@chickens really has been hatching out ducks for a while and knows a whole lot more than me.

But when I started incubating ducks eggs I found my successes rates much higher than my chicken hatches. I use a forced air incubator and keep it at 37.5C (99.5F) and keep the humidity between 47% - 52% I also keep my duck eggs on their sides and hand- turn them around 4-5 times a day. On lock-down (Day 25) You don't have to turn them anymore and I spike my humidity up no higher than 65% After that it's pretty much a waiting game. Ducklings love to take their time while so I wouldn't start freaking out if it's been a day or 2 past hatching day. After my ducklings are all hatched out I put them in a large plastic tote with pine shaving in it, A regular feeder and a plastic milk jug with 2 or 3 holes in it just bug enough for them to fit their heads in and get a drink. Ducklings are pretty messy and grow Very fast so I would clean their brooder out pretty much every day

As a little warning, Once you start incubating duck eggs you're not going to want to stop. I only started out with 6 ducks, Now I have over 50 with more on the way

...

 

[casportpony]

Have you read either of these articles yet?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

Have you thought about what type of incubator you want to buy?