May 2023 Hatch-a-long

[Hucklekree]

I cleaned as much gunk as I could off of them gently. But no washing. I am keeping humidity around 45-50 percent for the ducks and will not be misting. Basically taking the hand's off approach.

I dry hatch the chicken eggs and usually get 100%.

This is my first time hatching ducks in an incubator.

 

[Canadian Wind]

May is going to be a fun hatching month here! I’ve been wanting to hatch some duck for a long time and I finally took the plunge and got some eggs

Do you all wash your duck eggs to hatch or just leave the mud on? Also who all does misting or other duck specific things?

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Besides the ducks which I’ll set tomorrow I’ll be setting some quail eggs and a tray of eggs from my flock. Some will stay here but mostly all spoken for. I seem to especially have people wanting naked necks. If that keeps up I may separate them out into their own pen so I can hatch more of their eggs as it is it’s luck of the draw because I have a bunch of brown egg layers so I can’t tell who I’m hatching from.

Also have someone wanting me to hatch them some marans (from their flock) so that will be fun. I’ll have to decide if I want to put these in the cabinet or in a smaller incubator where I could run lower humidity. I suppose it’ll depend on how many he brings.

Don't wash them, and do spray them.

 

[Hucklekree]

Have you noticed a big difference with misting? You may not be able to answer and that is okay. I have heard from proponents of both and since I am in my third trimester and two weeks from my due date I opted for hands off on this hatch. However, if it is necessary for success I will find a way to make it work.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I've honestly only done one duck run, late last year, and my incubator was messed up so I didn't get a good hatch. But this is the article I followed:

https://saltinmycoffee.com/incubation-method-for-ducklings/

 

[Canadian Wind]

I will add that since ducks are water fowl, they regularly sit on their eggs whilst wet, so to me, that would be the natural thing to do.

 

[Dinoroar]

I cleaned as much gunk as I could off of them gently. But no washing. I am keeping humidity around 45-50 percent for the ducks and will not be misting. Basically taking the hand's off approach.

I dry hatch the chicken eggs and usually get 100%.

This is my first time hatching ducks in an incubator.

I was thinking I will probably just rub it off I know hatcheries dip but idk, it would make me nervous to wash them.

 

[Dinoroar]

I will add that since ducks are water fowl, they regularly sit on their eggs whilst wet, so to me, that would be the natural thing to do.

There does seem to be some sense to that right, that it would mimic their getting wet. I am not entirely clear if the misting is supposed to be helpful due to the moisture or it’s cooling effect

 

[Canadian Wind]

There does seem to be some sense to that right, that it would mimic their getting wet. I am not entirely clear if the misting is supposed to be helpful due to the moisture or it’s cooling effect

I actually would let them cool, then mist them. Candle at the same time, since... why not?

 

[junior67]

You are hatching a lot for not expecting to be here Can’t talk though… I was planning on taking the year off so I could focus on school that didn’t work.

Lmao!!!! I was only going to hatch for the other guy if he wanted me to and wait to hatch more for myself until I sold the ones I already hatched which I need to wait to see who I was going to keep. Lol

 

[Hucklekree]

I agree with the sense part of it. But will still move forward without misting or purposefully cooling. So far day 8 and all 18 are developing nicely. I will be sure to let you all how it goes.