How do I hatch DUCK eggs?

[kare21162]

I am getting some Khaki Campbell, Rouen/Khaki Campbell cross, and Call duck eggs to hatch together. Does anybody know how to do this correctly? I have a cheap Little Giant incubator with egg turner. I have hatches chickens in it. I've tried turkeys, with no success. So now I am going to challenge myself to some ducks. My Silkie hens are brooding on some other eggs for a friend...so I can't use them at the moment. These duck eggs are coming to me free so I'm going to try it

Let me know in good detail on what I need to do...or what not to do with duck eggs.

Thanks,

Carra

 

[4-H chicken mom]

My first advice is not to use the turner. I think it is better to hand turn duck eggs. I have done both and had much better results hand turning over the auto turner. I mist my eggs each day starting on day 4-26. Temps 99.5 through day 25, lower to 98.5 on last three days. Humdity 55%, last three days 70%. I raised my humidity to 70% because my first ducklings were really sticky and according to Storey's Guide, if your ducklings are sticky, the humidity needs to be raised. Good luck.

 

[dieselgrl48]

If you mist your eggs make sure the water is about same temp and inc.Cooler water can actualy cause the eggs to draw bacteria into the egg.I have hatched Hundreds in a Sportsman,I kept spray bottle inside so same temp as inc.but I didn't have as much luck last round on the LG I have now.Will try again with a few duck later.Good luck with your eggs DG

 

[kare21162]

Thanks for the informations guys! I have a spray bottle but I think it might be too big for this incubator. Also, when I have my hygrometer/temperature device inside...where so I sit it? On the floor of the incubator or try and put it as the same height of the eggs so the temp reads on the top of the eggs closest to the heating elements? When you say to "mist" the eggs...do you do it up close or do you just spray a few sprays all over them back farther?

 

[nissa_loves_cats]

I re-fill my mist bottle with warm tap water each day. I incubate duck eggs pretty much like they were chicken eggs except for the misting. They hatch OK, even though my humidity isn't as high as recommended much of the time.