Misting duck eggs???

[Sue S]

I'm on day 7 of incubating 3 Rouen & 3 Cayuga eggs for a friend. I've read different opinions about misting the eggs. I misted my eggs that I incubated last year & had a good hatch but I did have a problem with my humidity increasing after I misted. I'm thinking about Not misting this batch. Too mist or not to mist????

 

[katiek77]

I'm on day 7 of incubating 3 Rouen & 3 Cayuga eggs for a friend. I've read different opinions about misting the eggs. I misted my eggs that I incubated last year & had a good hatch but I did have a problem with my humidity increasing after I misted. I'm thinking about Not misting this batch. Too mist or not to mist????

@Texas Kiki and @WVduckchick ?

There is this same question that was asked today in another group I’m in. The responses have been 50/50.

 

[Kiki]

I vote no misting only because that is what I know/am familiar with.

 

[WVduckchick]

I only mist if my air cells are too small.

The humidity is obviously going to rise right after misting. As long as it settles back to where it was after the mist evaporates, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Storeys Guide to Ducks says they have had better results with misting, and broodies do tend to get wet most days while sitting, but I just haven’t felt the need to do it on a regular basis. I’m lazy. Lol

From Storeys Guide

 

[Mosey2003]

I would never. Water hitting the egg shells will rapidly cool the surface, that can cause the embryo to pull back.

If you want more humidity, fill all your wells and add wet sponges if necessary.

But, that's me.

 

[Squishychicken]

This is interesting I asked the same question a few weeks ago.

About a month or so ago I hatched some ducks eggs. Alot died. And a lady said to mist eggs and let them cool slightly to imitate the mother duck. The answer were also 50/50 in my thread....

 

[RainbowRabbits]

From Storeys Guide
View attachment 1774480

Okay, so they're saying that the eggs tend to dehydrate when you mist (since spraying water apparently draws out the moisture)...but then the guide follows up in the very next sentence by saying to prevent them from drying out during hatch, to spray them again. How does that make sense?


Also, thank you for posting an image of that guide! I was trying to find a copy online to read that very section a few days ago.

 

[RainbowRabbits]

I would never. Water hitting the egg shells will rapidly cool the surface, that can cause the embryo to pull back.

Don't broody ducks generally leave the nest several times a day for a total period of an hour or more? I thought having a cooling period may be good (as well as misting) due to that. I guess we'll find out based on whether or not I have success with my eggs! Haha

 

[AquaDuck]

I take the tray out - mist- wait 2-3 minutes 'till the water has evaporated and put the tray back. That way the humidity won't increase in the incubator. But then again, I enjoy doing things complicated and slow.

 

[WVduckchick]

Okay, so they're saying that the eggs tend to dehydrate when you mist (since spraying water apparently draws out the moisture)...but then the guide follows up in the very next sentence by saying to prevent them from drying out during hatch, to spray them again. How does that make sense?


Also, thank you for posting an image of that guide! I was trying to find a copy online to read that very section a few days ago.

You're welcome!

I guess the idea with the spraying at hatch time is that once you crank up the humidity for hatching, the opposite effect takes place? I don't like the idea of getting the eggs wet/damp in the last 3 days, but Holderead is one of the leading authorities on ducks, so