Help with Duck Hatching Problems

[ValkyrieRising]

Hey,
We are new to hatching ducks. All of our chicks hatch fine but our Rouen eggs are dying in the shell once in lockdown. Can anyone give me tips? We have two out of 20 that had to be helped. All others developed but pipped at the wrong end or just didn’t pip the outer shell. Please Help. We are going to be collecting more eggs soon but want tips before we do. Just hatched 36 chicks no problems. It is really weird!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I've hatched both duck and goose eggs successfully, but have a different approach with waterfowl than with poultry. What's your method? Do you cool and mist the eggs?

 

[ValkyrieRising]

I've hatched both duck and goose eggs successfully, but have a different approach with waterfowl than with poultry. What's your method? Do you cool and mist the eggs?

I have not tried that. I am thinking of getting a new incubator specifically for the duck eggs. How do you mist and cool them? What type of incubator do you use?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I've primarily used a Hova-Bator 1588 for waterfowl (it's a circulated air incubator). It's roomy, holds temperature consistently, and returns to set temp quickly thanks to the fan. I like it so much, I have two.

I also hand turn three times a day (I have an autoturner, but prefer hand-turning waterfowl eggs), and follow the schedule in this thread for misting and cooling: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-misting-of-goose-eggs-in-incubation.635304/.

To cool, I just take the eggs out of the incubator and place them in a little plastic basket and use a small sprayer with lukewarm water in it to spritz the eggs so they're wet but not soaked. They just dry a bit until the cooling period is up, then I put them back into the incubator. Pretty easy!

 

[ValkyrieRising]

I've primarily used a Hova-Bator 1588 for waterfowl (it's a circulated air incubator). It's roomy, holds temperature consistently, and returns to set temp quickly thanks to the fan. I like it so much, I have two.

I also hand turn three times a day (I have an autoturner, but prefer hand-turning waterfowl eggs), and follow the schedule in this thread for misting and cooling: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-misting-of-goose-eggs-in-incubation.635304/.

To cool, I just take the eggs out of the incubator and place them in a little plastic basket and use a small sprayer with lukewarm water in it to spritz the eggs so they're wet but not soaked. They just dry a bit until the cooling period is up, then I put them back into the incubator. Pretty easy!

I was using an auto turner and I wonder if they were just too heavy for it. I will try your method and see how it goes from there. I have never had to hand turn eggs. How do you do that just tilt the incubator or reach in and turn them? What temp and humidity do you find works best for your ducks?

Sorry for so many questions but I just really want this next hatch to go better because our kids were so disappointed.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

No worries - this is the place for questions.

To hand turn, take a soft pencil and mark a big "x" on one side of the egg and an "o" on the other. When you turn the eggs, open the incubator and gently turn them so that you see the mark designating the opposite on top (e.g., turn the "x" until you see "o" on top).

I generally keep the temp at 99.5 (again, for circulated air incubators) and humidity on the low side (around 40%). I'm sure other BYCers have different duck egg incubation methods that work, too, but this approach has worked reliably for me.

Best of luck with your next hatch!

 

[ValkyrieRising]

No worries - this is the place for questions.

To hand turn, take a soft pencil and mark a big "x" on one side of the egg and an "o" on the other. When you turn the eggs, open the incubator and gently turn them so that you see the mark designating the opposite on top (e.g., turn the "x" until you see "o" on top).

I generally keep the temp at 99.5 (again, for circulated air incubators) and humidity on the low side (around 40%). I'm sure other BYCers have different duck egg incubation methods that work, too, but this approach has worked reliably for me.

Best of luck with your next hatch!

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Thanks so much for your help!

YVW! Hope you'll update us on your next hatch.