Incubating Duck Eggs for the First Time...

[Chickapooh23]

Quote:
WZ, I'm in CO and have been keeping my incubator humidity high throughout incubation even for chicken eggs. Buster is in ID with similar climate and he thought it improved his hatch rates... I have a mixed batch of duck & chicken eggs going now and the humidity is staying around 60%. I think the eggs just dry out too much internally if it's not kept high.

I am interested to know how your hatch goes, as it sounds like your humidity is running quite a bit lower than mine.

I don't know anything about hatching ducks...but I am reading Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks and it states that spraying them helps them to dehydrate properly. I think I would spray them but maybe watch the aircell's to make sure they aren't getting to big. If they start dehydrating to much stop. I would also maybe add a wet sponge to help raise the humity up to the right level. Humidity seems to be very important in hatching ducks.

I am debated on getting ducks. I am thinking about Khaki's or buff's or maybe Appleyard's. I can't wait to see how your hatch comes out.

 

[Wifezilla]

The whole back wall is sponges in water

 

[BeardedChick]

Interesting. Do they seem to be evenly wet all the way up?

 

[Wifezilla]

Wetter at the bottom, but I turn the sponges when I turn the eggs.

 

[gretchenhau]

ok, I have one peking duck egg that pipped at 7:00 am it is not 5:45 pm and the hole has cracked a tiny bit more. I haven't opened the bator, I hope the humidity is high enough, I have water in the bottom holding areas and a small dish in the top.

how long do I wait, I know not to help. Will it hatch?

Help, I am a wreck.

 

[Riocotesei]

I have never hatched ducks but i never help when I hatch chickens. Some of them take longer to hatch than others. If it has a hole in the shell and can breath it should be fine.

 

[MissPrissy]

There doesn't appear to be enough surface area exposed for the relative humidity to rise with the sponges in a pocket like compartment. If I am seeing the photo correct the only surface area exposed is the tops of the sponges.

 

[BeardedChick]

ok, I have one peking duck egg that pipped at 7:00 am it is not 5:45 pm and the hole has cracked a tiny bit more. I haven't opened the bator, I hope the humidity is high enough, I have water in the bottom holding areas and a small dish in the top.

How exciting!​

 

[Wifezilla]

There doesn't appear to be enough surface area exposed for the relative humidity to rise with the sponges in a pocket like compartment. If I am seeing the photo correct the only surface area exposed is the tops of the sponges.

Actually there are ventilation holes on the side with about 1" to hold the water in the bottom. The whole side of the sponge with the exception of about 1" is exposed to the air. It is hard to see in the photo.​

 

[BeardedChick]

Let us know how it goes with the new hygrometer...