Hatching chicks, but I might have one duck egg??

[jennifer81]

I am hatching chicks for the third year in my classroom. I got eggs from a local bird sanctuary, 16 fertile chicken eggs...or so I thought.

Started all the eggs in the incubator on the 17th (last Tuesday). By Friday, we candled them and found all the good signs (heart/veins, etc) in most of the eggs. There was this one egg though, much bigger than the others, that had not started doing anything. I thought maybe because of its size it might need another day so I packed it up with the others to bring home for the weekend. (Could not close my egg carton with it though, that's how big it is!)

Sunday night I decided to check it, and was shocked to find the very beginning signs of development. All the other eggs are moving around inside, but this one seemed to be just getting started.

After looking on google today, I think it looks like a 7 day candled duck egg. Is there anyway to be certain?

I have access to another incubator, would it do better if I move it to its own incubator now? I've never hatched a duck before so any advice would be appreciated! My students are in LOVE with this egg because it's so much bigger, so I really want it to make it.

 

[yinepu]

I am hatching chicks for the third year in my classroom. I got eggs from a local bird sanctuary, 16 fertile chicken eggs...or so I thought.

Started all the eggs in the incubator on the 17th (last Tuesday). By Friday, we candled them and found all the good signs (heart/veins, etc) in most of the eggs. There was this one egg though, much bigger than the others, that had not started doing anything. I thought maybe because of its size it might need another day so I packed it up with the others to bring home for the weekend. (Could not close my egg carton with it though, that's how big it is!)

Sunday night I decided to check it, and was shocked to find the very beginning signs of development. All the other eggs are moving around inside, but this one seemed to be just getting started.

After looking on google today, I think it looks like a 7 day candled duck egg. Is there anyway to be certain?

I have access to another incubator, would it do better if I move it to its own incubator now? I've never hatched a duck before so any advice would be appreciated! My students are in LOVE with this egg because it's so much bigger, so I really want it to make it.

duck eggs seem to be smoother (some even feel waxy) than a chicken egg..

 

[CorinneP]

They often look dirtier clinging to that waxy coating ... Usually Larger .. But Ducks are fun too !

 

[jennifer81]

Now I'm about 99% sure I have 1 duck egg mixed in with my chicken eggs! It is definitely waxier and looks completely different when candled.

I have it separated in its own incubator now because the chicks should be hatching over the next few days. One even hatched today!

After the duck hatches next week, is it ok to put it in the same brooder box with the chicks? What do you feed them?