Incubation for Mule Eggs??

[Bleenie]

I bought 3 dozen Mule eggs today, they sold them as "duck eggs" so i didn't find out until afterwards. I am CLUELESS about Mule duck eggs, so i need some help...

the hens were Muscovy
The drake was Pekin/Khaki

How long is the incubation period?
Are they easier to hatch than Purebred Muscovy eggs?

I will incubate them same as my Purebred Muscovy eggs, but, I don't know when to go into lockdown. any help would be wonderful!!
thanks everyone

 

[Bleenie]

Okay, so I found some info. do they Always take 32 days? or can it vary?

Here's the info I found about Mule Ducks/Muscovy HybridsI guess mine would be hinny's..)

Muscovy when crossed with other breeds, produce sterile offspring. For instance, if you cross a Muscovy male with a Pekin female you will hatch mules; if you cross a Pekin male with a Muscovy female the progeny are called hinnies. Whereas a Pekin takes 28 days to hatch and a Muscovy takes 35 days, a mule or hinny takes 32 days to hatch.

Approximately 60% of mule ducks are males. Some of their characteristics are like the Muscovy as they are large, quiet, slow moving and have long claws but are also like Pekin as they swim well, the males and females are much the same size and they do not fly. Hinnies are not grown commercially. Males hinnies are much larger than female hinnies, like the Muscovy, yet the females look Pekin but fly quite well.

Mules and hinnies cannot reproduce. Both males are sterile and only the hinny females lay eggs (though they cannot hatch). If you have Muscovy and Pekin together, the chances are poor that they will cross but if they do, a hinny will probably be the result as Pekin males can catch Muscovy females easier than Muscovy males can catch Pekin females.

 

[chickboss]

That is interesting. What are you going to do with them?

 

[Bleenie]

I will probably sell them, maybe as ducklings but i might also wait til they're older.

 

[duckluck]

I have never heard of "mule eggs" until now...I was like, wow, mules are laying eggs now?!

That sure would make it easier to produce more mules rather than letting them cook in the mare for almost a year! I think you have just disappointed mule enthusiasts everywhere by them actually being duck eggs!

 

[chickboss]

No kidding, if they could do it with Mules, imagine the possibilities.......Wha ha ha! I read somewhere that the mules can turn out very pretty! Good luck with them! I think I read also that if it is a Mallard type drake over a Muscovy duck, that the eggs will take the 35 days to hatch just like the Muscovies. Did I read that in Storey's guide.......? I'll have to check now, I'm curious.

 

[katharinad]

This is from Metzer Farms website.

What is a mule duck?
Muscovy and domestic ducks (such as the Pekin - which were developed from Mallards) are very different as they have been genetically isolated for over 50 million years. They can be crossed but you get some very interesting results. If you cross a Muscovy male with a Pekin female you will hatch moulards (or mule ducks); if you cross a Pekin male with a Muscovy female the progeny are called hinnies. In Europe and in Asia many mule ducks are produced because of their large size, quality liver and reduced fat content in the carcass. Artificial insemination has been developed in ducks due to the desire to produce mule ducks. If left to mate naturally, the fertility is only 20-30%. Artificial insemination brings the fertility up to 80%. Whereas a Pekin takes 28 days to hatch and a Muscovy takes 35 days, a mule or hinny takes 32 days to hatch.

Approximately 60% of mule ducks are males. Some of their characteristics are like the Muscovy as they are large, quiet, slow moving and have long claws but are also like Pekin as they swim well, the males and females are much the same size and they do not fly. Hinnies are not grown commercially. Male hinnies are much larger than female hinnies, like the muscovy, yet the females look like Pekins but fly quite well. Mules and hinnies cannot reproduce. Both males are sterile and only the hinny females lay eggs (though they cannot hatch). If you have Muscovy and Pekin together, the chances are poor that they will cross but if they do, a hinny will probably be the result as Pekin males can catch Muscovy females more easily than Muscovy males can catch Pekin females. We do not produce mules or hinnies but thought you might enjoy this material on this interesting aspect of duck production and genetics.

 

[Bleenie]

I am really excited to see what hatches form these eggs, or how many! I have only ever had 1 mule duck, it was a Muscovy/Pekin mix and was super cute, a ittle hen. it had mroe of the Pekin body shape but the head/neck was more Muscovy in appearance, it also had cute little black & white muscovy feet.

Does anyone know if the hinny's lay 'year round' like Pekins, or seasonally like Muscovy hens?

 

[Tshell]

I am really excited to see what hatches form these eggs, or how many! I have only ever had 1 mule duck, it was a Muscovy/Pekin mix and was super cute, a ittle hen. it had mroe of the Pekin body shape but the head/neck was more Muscovy in appearance, it also had cute little black & white muscovy feet.

Does anyone know if the hinny's lay 'year round' like Pekins, or seasonally like Muscovy hens?

How long did they take to hatch? I just put my mule eggs in the incubator, but not sure since they are muscovy/duck cross.

 

[Nigel27]

The person that posted this hasn’t been seen on-site for 5 years