hatching duck eggs

[dinahmoe]

sorry if this is a dumb question but i am new to ducks.i want to get some hatching eggs this spring and wanted to know if a chicken will hatch them and raise them?if so,when would i have to take them due to the feed differences and water?i have some great broodies and they do such a good job.

i am getting calls so does that matter because of the size?

thanks for any info

 

[FenDruadin]

Yup, chickens can and do successfully hatch duck eggs--no problem. Not sure about the call duck thing... someone else will have to answer for sure, but I suspect it's not a big deal since chicken eggs are smaller than full-sized duck eggs anyway. Good luck!

 

[destinduck]

your call duck eggs are about same size as chickens, Just remember duck eggs for the most part take longer to hatch than chckens(28 days) other than that no problem

 

[TriciaHowe]

My hens have hatched ducks. I fed Purina Flock Raiser to them and the hen after hatch. It was funny to see them try and get under her when they were only a couple of weeks old because they grow so fast....They barely fit

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I've had chickens hatch duck eggs, even goose eggs! Once I gave a bantam hen 3 duck eggs, then a week later added 3 chicken eggs. It was cute to watch her with her family of chicks & ducklings that hatched on the same day. I imagined her scolding her ducklings "why can't you learn to scratch and dust-bathe like your other brothers & sisters?" And the ducklings would answer "Mo-ommm, when will you take us to the pool?"

 

[dinahmoe]

thanks everyone.
thats a good idea putting a few chicken eggs in a week later.
what about the hen quitting after 3 weeks thinking they won't hatch?

 

[TriciaHowe]

Usually hens won't leave the nest at exactly 21 days...I have had them try and sit for several months.....

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Chickens aren't that good at counting...

 

[TriciaHowe]

Quote:
LOL! That just made me laugh....

 

[dinahmoe]

Quote:
LOL! That just made me laugh....

me too