Last Minute Math Check

[Chris240]

The plan is a mixed bird holiday hatch. Pekin ducks, barnyard mystery mix chickens, and jumbo brown quail timed to hatch Christmas Eve into Christmas Day.
I have never tried duck eggs before. Based on research, limited experience with chickens and quail, and advice from someone with considerably more experience with quail I'm thinking I should set duck and chicken eggs in the afternoon on 12/3 and the quail in the afternoon on 12/7.
Does this sound about right or am I way off base anywhere?
Any input will be greatly appreciated. Happy and Healthy Holidays to All.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

The plan is a mixed bird holiday hatch. Pekin ducks, barnyard mystery mix chickens, and jumbo brown quail timed to hatch Christmas Eve into Christmas Day.
I have never tried duck eggs before. Based on research, limited experience with chickens and quail, and advice from someone with considerably more experience with quail I'm thinking I should set duck and chicken eggs in the afternoon on 12/3 and the quail in the afternoon on 12/7.
Does this sound about right or am I way off base anywhere?
Any input will be greatly appreciated. Happy and Healthy Holidays to All.

One timing issue I see is that Pekin duck eggs should take around 28 days to incubate, so if you set them right now (11/27), they would likely begin hatching around Christmas Day (and into the next couple of days). Jumbo Brown quail have an (approx) 18 day incubation period, so I'd set them on 12/6 for an estimated 12/24-12/25 hatch date; remember, hatching + or - 2 days from the "standard" incubation period is considered within the realm of "normal".

I incubate both chicken and waterfowl eggs and don't incubate the two types together because I use different techniques with each. If you haven't already checked out the incubation resources in the Learning Center, I think you may find them helpful. Best wishes for your holiday hatch!

 

[ShannonR]

Chickens and ducks have different incubation times, and the humidity requirements are slightly different. Humidity issues completely aside, count on 21 days for chickens, 28 days for mallard-derived ducks, and 35 days for Muscovies. Have not hatched quail before, so can't speak much to that.

 

[Chris240]

One timing issue I see is that Pekin duck eggs should take around 28 days to incubate, so if you set them right now (11/27), they would likely begin hatching around Christmas Day (and into the next couple of days). Jumbo Brown quail have an (approx) 18 day incubation period, so I'd set them on 12/6 for an estimated 12/24-12/25 hatch date; remember, hatching + or - 2 days from the "standard" incubation period is considered within the realm of "normal".

I incubate both chicken and waterfowl eggs and don't incubate the two types together because I use different techniques with each. If you haven't already checked out the incubation resources in the Learning Center, I think you may find them helpful. Best wishes for your holiday hatch!

Thanks for the input. I must have misread some duck info. Not really surprising I've be having trouble with my eyes for the last few weeks.
Chicken and duck eggs are already in the capable hands of the USPS. I have two incubators I guess I'll aim for Christmas chickens and quail and New Years ducks.

 

[Chris240]

Chickens and ducks have different incubation times, and the humidity requirements are slightly different. Humidity issues completely aside, count on 21 days for chickens, 28 days for mallard-derived ducks, and 35 days for Muscovies. Have not hatched quail before, so can't speak much to that.

Thanks for the input. I must have misread some duck info. Not really surprising I've be having trouble with my eyes for the last few weeks.
Chicken and duck eggs are already in the capable hands of the USPS. I have two incubators I guess I'll aim for Christmas chickens and quail and New Years ducks.​

 

[Chris240]

Hope everyone had an enjoyable Turkey Day.
Thanks for advice on my hatch plan.
With no local pick-up options available, it was a little too late to fix the timing. Chickens and ducks were already in transit and quail were bought and scheduled to ship. It was way too late to abort the hatch even if I wanted to.
I took another look at the plan and I'm still confident the timing is good for a high probability of a Christmas hatch for chickens and quail. An extra week for ducks should mean a New Years hatch.
Bottom line: Eggs are not going to hatch one minute before or after they decide they are ready. New babies are great no matter when they show up, if the plan works it's a bonus.
Slightly revised "Mixed Bird, Mixed Holiday" hatch plan kicks off in a couple of hours. I'll let you how it turns out.