Hatching Duck Eggs

[MrsFordTN]

Couple Questions from a newbie, not sure if this is even the right place for duck questions.

How long are eggs good? I mean if I picked up fresh eggs from a seller and wanted to wait on maybe a shipment or picking up more eggs, how long could I wait and during this waiting period what should I do.

I have never honestly seen a duck egg in person, how much bigger are they and will they fit in an auto turner? Do they need to be turned different then chicken eggs?

I know the hum. needs to be higher, what about temp?

Ummm, also, sexing ducks? I know some of the eggs I plan on getting are a breed, so I guess that won't be hard, but a few others are mixed all up, is there a way to tell?

Any help will be very very very welcome!

 

[duckyfromoz]

Generally the viability of an egg to hatch starts to decrease after a week or so. Freshest is definitely best- as even if an old egg is fertile and does hatch- the duckling may still be weak or have issues.

Duck eggs are bigger than a chicken egg but can still fit into a turner- but they actually do much better when laid down on their sides and hand turned.

Temp is the same as for chickens..but yes humidity is higher..55- 60% for 25 days- then 80 % for lockdown.

there are only a few breeds that are auto sexing. The rest you can either vent sex- but thats better left to someone who knows what they are doing so as not to injure the duckling- or wait a few weeks and see who QUACKS and who has a more quiet raspy voice. ... The females are louder than the males.


Hope some of this helps you.

 

[chickbird]

Quote:
what is the rationale for laying them flat as opposed to placing them in the incubator??????????????

 

[MrsFordTN]

Thanks so much for the info! I wouldn't even think of look at their bottoms, as I don't know what the heck I would be doing. I mean I can barely sex chickens as adults (Note I gave my grandfather a white leghorn 'rooster' that I now have eggs in the bator from...)

The guy I was going to get mixed duck eggs from disappeared, so I need to find a replacement soon...