I need the basics on duck incubation

[warmfuzzies]

My uncle just dropped off some mallerd eggs he ordered. He was going to put them under his sitting duck hens, but one of them quit so he wants me to incubate them.

I have done chicken eggs, I just need the specifics for ducks. I know the temps are the same, the humidity higher. Anything else? Thanks!

 

[TexasVet]

28 days instead of 21, and I mist mine with water each time I turn them. As a rule, I have better hatches with ducks than I do chickens... I think they're just easier to hatch.

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.CountryChickens.com

 

[warmfuzzies]

I wasnt paying attention, I did not mean to quote myself...

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

I've only incubated ducks once and they were my own ducks eggs so that may have played in my favor... but for what it is worth:

I incubated same as chickens, my humidity was in the 40s, i upped it to 60s on day 25. I had one early quitter (around day 10) and the ramaining 8 eggs all hatched.

When I was researching this same question I found there are two schools of thought: one school is a proponent of incubating like chickens, the other school: higher humidity/misting. I read a lot of posts and I came to the conclusion that higher humidity was riskier (for me); I really didn't want to drown the ducklings! Although a momma duckling may go for a swim and come back to the nest a little damp so perhaps ducklings have a higher thresh hold for humidity?

At any rate you must decide which you are more comfortable with. A lot of people say the same thing that KHayward said: ducklings are easier to hatch than chickens!

I was certainly not prepared for the extreme cuteness of ducklings!!

Good luck!

 

[MDC]

I don't worry so much about the water in the trays but I do let my incubator cool for about 15 minutes until the eggs are luke warm & then I spritz them with warm water before putting the lid back on.