Hatching duck eggs

[Palletto26]

I have a question, I am trying to incubate duck eggs, it had been in the fridge for a few days, after taking it out of the fridge I put it straight into the incubator instead of letting it reach room temperature first, will it still hatch?

 

[silkie1472]

Okay, so the egg being in the fridge would be your biggest factor. The cluster of cells that allow the embryo to start forming must remain alive, and cold temperatures are never good for them. Some eggs are better at this than others, but if they’ve survived the cold, then they should survive the major temperature change. Best of luck, but do not be surprised by negatively skewed results!

 

[Palletto26]

Okay, so the egg being in the fridge would be your biggest factor. The cluster of cells that allow the embryo to start forming must remain alive, and cold temperatures are never good for them. Some eggs are better at this than others, but if they’ve survived the cold, then they should survive the major temperature change. Best of luck, but do not be surprised by negatively skewed results!

Is it a lot better to get them in the incubator as soon as they are gathered the day they are laid?

 

[silkie1472]

I have had the best results by gathering the eggs that I want to hatch and place them somewhere and allow them to “calm down” or settle for a day or so — not long enough for the air cell to detach or the yolk to become fixed (rotating may be necessary during this time). This is not a necessity, but I have had better results doing this. The next thing I do is place them directly into an air circulating incubator (that has already reached the ideal temperature). That is really all I do.

As a rule of thumb, do not refrigerate eggs if you plan on hatching them.

What breed are they? Some hatch better than others and have better fertility.

 

[Palletto26]

I have had the best results by gathering the eggs that I want to hatch and place them somewhere and allow them to “calm down” or settle for a day or so — not long enough for the air cell to detach or the yolk to become fixed (rotating may be necessary during this time). This is not a necessity, but I have had better results doing this. The next thing I do is place them directly into an air circulating incubator (that has already reached the ideal temperature). That is really all I do.

As a rule of thumb, do not refrigerate eggs if you plan on hatching them.

What breed are they? Some hatch better than others and have better fertility.

The female is white pekin and the drake is a khaki campbell.

 

[silkie1472]

Both have good fertility and great hatching results. Like I said, just don’t refrigerate before you incubate.

 

[Palletto26]

Both have good fertility and great hatching results. Like I said, just don’t refrigerate before you incubate.

Good advice, thank you! However I now have to wait until I get some more normal eggs since she just started laying less than a week ago, Three eggs so far have been double yolk, two conjoined yolks. Hopefully I will get some normal eggs good for hatching, also I am curious to see what hatches out with those two breeds crossing.

 

[silkie1472]

I’m curious as well. I crossed a male Rouen with female Pekins and got black ducks with white breasts, black beams, and orange and black feet. They were the best laying ducks I ever had — but they were a hybrid.

 

[chickens really]

Fridge eggs hatch so definitely not an issue..
Doesn't matter if just put into the incubator. Just don't turn for 24 hours and Candle around 8 days to look for development..

 

[chickens really]

I’m curious as well. I crossed a male Rouen with female Pekins and got black ducks with white breasts, black beams, and orange and black feet. They were the best laying ducks I ever had — but they were a hybrid.

Not hybrid but crosses