Look what the hen hatched! Duck egg humidity Q

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Zoe and Zack's first duckling! I didn't want to fool with different humidity in the bator, so I put 10 of Zoe the Pekins, eggs under a couple of bantam hens.
We had some 'issues' with Zack climbing in the nest boxes and trying to mate the little hens on the nests and and 7 were broken, 1 was clear.
That left 2 good eggs. The first hatched last night and the other has pipped!

That brings me to my question...
I thought duck eggs required higher humidity all thru incubation.
Or do they just need higher humidity when being artificially incubated?

Thanks!
Lisa

 

[chickenranchwife]

Lisa, I have no clue about hatching ducks, but I do have to say he sure is a cutie!

 

[Carole AM]

I hatched a duckling under a broody hen last year. I think the body heat retains the moisture--I'm not sure.

Congratz on the new cutie!

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Thanks! I didn't know if it was a fluke or if I could count on hens hatching duck eggs (without extra humidity) year-round. That's great!
I've been setting Zoe's eggs (all under broody hens) right along with (in the same nest as) chicken eggs.

I kept reading that duck eggs need misting and special care, but that seemed like too much trouble to me.

Lisa

 

[Carole AM]

Hey--you don't happen to have any crested call ducks or bantam-sized ducks, do ya? I don't even know if they exist, but I think it would be super-cute!``

 

[MissPrissy]

I wish I had a natural water source. I love ducks and geese. Very cute duckling you have.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Yaay! The other duckling has hatched --- still under the hen 'cause it's pouring rain here. We need the rain but it sure makes for a messy morning.
I wish we had a decent-sized pond here, but all I have are 2 goldfish ponds. Hubby surprised me with Z' and Z' last Easter (feed store had d'lings) and I'd hoped to pass them off to Mom when they were grown (she has a 5 acre pond in her front yard), but noooo, she doesn't want more ducks --- she wants SWANS!!!!
No, the 2 Pekins are (were) the only waterfowl here.

If you find any, please don't show them to me --- I don't want to be tempted!

Lisa

 

[GloriaH]

I hatch my duck and chicken eggs together at the same time. I jusy use the same humidity as for a chicken. I have never had a problem, I just start my duck eggs first then add the chicken eggs on the right day.