How to hatch duck eggs??

[HuffleClaw]

I surrender. I’m asking for help.

How the heck do you hatch duck eggs without having an EXTREMELY low hatch rate?!

I have tried sooo many times in an incubator with maybe 1 duckling hatching. 2 out of 10 was my highest hatch rate.

@chickens really has been a life saver so many times for me. I appreciate her help so very very much. She has wonderful success and gives me plenty of tips but they seem to not work for me. Sooo, tomorrow I’m going to buy a new incubator as mine is old and I really like the model she has.

Temperature ~ 100.2
Humidity ~ 50-55%
Turning 3 times daily.


WHAT! Am I doing wrong?!


Is spraying them with water and letting them cool (- cooling process? -) necessary? I don’t do either but maybe I should?


Yes I have a trusted thermometer (have 2 actually) and hygrometer.

* I’ll also add that my hens have great success with these eggs. They all come from my flock. 90-100% hatches my hens get. But not me!


Help a sister out please before she screws everything up again?


Any help is GREATLY appreciated!


- Kayla

 

[Pyxis]

I would advise weighing the eggs to track moisture loss as your first step - from the sounds of things, your humidity may be too high. The best humidity will vary from area to area. For instance, in my area, 30% is ideal. 50% would have them drowning in their shells.

Weighing is the most accurate way to track moisture loss and make sure the humidity is correct.

Your temp may also be either a bit too high or a bit too low. In a forced air, with a fan, you want the temp to be 99.5 F. In a still air, no fan, the temp should be 101.5 measured at the top of the eggs.

I know you're not a beginner hatcher, but this article I wrote does have the info on how to weigh eggs to track moisture loss:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

 

[HuffleClaw]

I would advise weighing the eggs to track moisture loss as your first step - from the sounds of things, your humidity may be too high. The best humidity will vary from area to area. For instance, in my area, 30% is ideal. 50% would have them drowning in their shells.

Weighing is the most accurate way to track moisture loss and make sure the humidity is correct.

Your temp may also be either a bit too high or a bit too low. In a forced air, with a fan, you want the temp to be 99.5 F. In a still air, no fan, the temp should be 101.5 measured at the top of the eggs.

I know you're not a beginner hatcher, but this article I wrote does have the info on how to weigh eggs to track moisture loss:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

I hadn’t thought about humidity being too high. I use a MagicFly incubator which is forced air. I’ll have to get a scale. Anything is worth trying. Thank you Pyxis!

 

[chickens really]

I surrender. I’m asking for help.

How the heck do you hatch duck eggs without having an EXTREMELY low hatch rate?!

I have tried sooo many times in an incubator with maybe 1 duckling hatching. 2 out of 10 was my highest hatch rate.

@chickens really has been a life saver so many times for me. I appreciate her help so very very much. She has wonderful success and gives me plenty of tips but they seem to not work for me. Sooo, tomorrow I’m going to buy a new incubator as mine is old and I really like the model she has.

Temperature ~ 100.2
Humidity ~ 50-55%
Turning 3 times daily.


WHAT! Am I doing wrong?!


Is spraying them with water and letting them cool (- cooling process? -) necessary? I don’t do either but maybe I should?


Yes I have a trusted thermometer (have 2 actually) and hygrometer.

* I’ll also add that my hens have great success with these eggs. They all come from my flock. 90-100% hatches my hens get. But not me!


Help a sister out please before she screws everything up again?


Any help is GREATLY appreciated!


- Kayla

Best wishes my Girl.........

 

[Pyxis]

I hadn’t thought about humidity being too high. I use a MagicFly incubator which is forced air. I’ll have to get a scale. Anything is worth trying. Thank you Pyxis!

You're welcome!

Oh, forgot to answer about misting! Misting I don't find to be necessary for duck eggs, unless they aren't losing enough moisture, then it can used to catch them up. Misting actually helps them lose more moisture. For Call eggs, on the advice of someone who has hatched hundreds, maybe thousands, of Calls, I do mist the last few days before lockdown. She said she found that doing so reduced the number of 'sticky' hatchlings. If you've ever had a duckling hatch and it was covered in sticky gunk, you'll know what that means, haha.

 

[HuffleClaw]

You're welcome!

Oh, forgot to answer about misting! Misting I don't find to be necessary for duck eggs, unless they aren't losing enough moisture, then it can used to catch them up. Misting actually helps them lose more moisture. For Call eggs, on the advice of someone who has hatched hundreds, maybe thousands, of Calls, I do mist the last few days before lockdown. She said she found that doing so reduced the number of 'sticky' hatchlings. If you've ever had a duckling hatch and it was covered in sticky gunk, you'll know what that means, haha.

Oh yeah definitely know about gunky hatchlings.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Best wishes my Girl.........

Thank you my friend!

 

[HuffleClaw]

Though I’m pretty sure the eggs aren’t fertile (though who knows it’s hard to tell), I’m planning to set duck eggs this weekend,.. assuming I figure everything out and get a new incubator.

 

[chickens really]

Thank you my friend!

If you need me again I'll be there instantly! I won't chat here though..

 

[HuffleClaw]

If you need me again I'll be there instantly! I won't chat here though..

Of course! I’ll text you or however you’d prefer I contact you. Hopefully I have better success this time around