I agree with Kiki in that humidity and temperature are key for ducks. It's easier to hatch chicken eggs if you want to give that a go first. You can do a dry incubation up until the last 3 days and just add water/sponges then. For ducks they need a bit of humidity throughout and then high humidity the last 3 days to soften the shell and membranes so they can break through. I've done just 3 duck hatches. First time I did too low humidity and only got one to hatch. Second time I did too high humidity and all drowned without even internally pipping. Third time I almost got it, but still only 3 hatched and I did help them because I didn't want more to die. The other died along the way or didn't internally pip. If they don't internally pip, there's no helping them. I have a sucky styrofoam incubator. It doesn't hold a steady temp or humidity, which is why I've had problems. Anyway, hatching is a learning experience. Not always a nice one.
