hatching ducklings is depressing and stressful

[llaaadyel]

I think that the most important thing with hatching duck eggs is the humidity during the hatch. They seem to develop just fine, but if the humidity is too low during lockdown, they just get shrink wrapped in the egg. I learned this lesson the hard way with my first hatch. Most importantly don't open the bator after lockdown. Its so hard keep your hands out of it I know, but if you get the humidity up, the best way to keep it there is to not open the bator. If you have to add water, use a tube. This has really helped my hatches.

 

[tia]

This waiting stuff is hard..... I'm doing chicken eggs for the first time. The air cell looks pretty small, but I am on day 10. Hope my humidity at 45 is high enough.

 

[hippiehen]

My broody duck was sitting on close to 20 eggs... I don't think any of them are going to make it.

I'm going to have to buy her foster duckling at TSC I guess.

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

It is emotional. I'm a bit shy to try again after a bad first hatch too. But I probably will again.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
This is SOOO true!!!! I used to worry about having the humidity up from the start and I could only get 2-3 out of 24 to hatch. This last duck hatch, I had them in with chicken eggs, so the humidity was only 40% during lockdown and the first duckling out pushed it to where it needed to be and all 5 eggs I set hatched.

 

[jfishfam]

Both ducklings didn't make it out of the egg. I think it was probably humidity. We'll see if we try this again or not.

 

[loprettaerin]

i have been hatching rouen duck eggs for last couple months at first was just ok. But since I have been misting the eggs from day 7 to day 23 my hatches have drastically improved even have had some 100% hatches which is very hard. I also recently tried putting a glass plan of warm water under my incubator during lockdown an a extra sponge in there. I think humidity may be too high know so I think I will take out sponge for awhile. Ducks seen to need way higher humidy durning incuabtion and even higher during lockdown. I keep mine around 70 during lockdown and 58 to 60 during incubation.

Im only using a little giant with no turner for my duck eggs I can keep humidity up higher with it then my home made one. I think ducks/waterfowl are just trickier and you have to find what is best for your incubator. I hate having ducks pipping and then scrink wrap or just plain die before they even get through the shell. I feel everyones pain with that I used to have to help allot of them but thankfully not anymore.

 

[jfishfam]

Thanks for the encouragement. We all need it once in a while.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
They ARE difficult, but when you find out what works for you you will be addicted to them too!!!

 

[jfishfam]

My husband will freak if I get too addicted to it Well, not really, but he won't be thrilled. I think we'll probably do lots of research this year and then consider hatching again next year. That will be a good way to work into it. We'll be getting a couple more ducks (buff), meat chickens and a few layers. My son is going to sell eggs. Trying duck eggs, but people have this aversion to "duck" eggs.