Muscovy duck help

[vahomesteaders]

Hello guys and gals
First let me start by saying I am new here and find this to be an awesome site! I am hatching some Muscovy ducks. And they are giving me fits. We had no problems hatching our BSL chicks but the ducks are proving difficult. They are pipping at 30-32 days then dying before getting out. The humidity is a little low but the weather has been up and down in va so one days its hot and the next cold so its been hard to regulate. I am spritzing the eggs twice a day and still loosing them. I tried to entervine and help with one but it was too late. I have done this many times with chicks with no problems. I have several eggs at the 32-34 day mark that are peeping and rolling around like crazy but havent been able to get out yet and Im not sure what to do as I dont want to loose anymore. Any suggestions would be great!

 

[Alaskan]

I have never tried to incubate Muscovy eggs, so I don't think I can help.

I am so sorry that you are having such a horrid time of it!

Maybe one of these pages will help:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/incubating-and-hatching-muscovy-eggs


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/42774/incubating-muscovy-duck-eggs-questions

 

[Amiga]

What is the humidity, and is it wet or dry bulb?

I am not a hatcher, but several first-time hatchers seem to keep humidity too high, based on what I have read.

 

[vahomesteaders]

What is the humidity, and is it wet or dry bulb?

I am not a hatcher, but several first-time hatchers seem to keep humidity too high, based on what I have read.

I am running a dry bulb which is what several different breeders said to use. They use the spray down method with a dry bulb. Ive used it for geese and chicks but this is the first ducks we have tried. And will likely be the last in this bator. She is rather cheap and has some age and keeps it harder to regulate. I read the same thing about humidity. Many successful hatchers are keeping it around 20% compared to the 80% the books say. Mine is about 40% but fluctuates up and down a bit. We successfully hatched one yesterday and they have the dreaded yellow goo. So it is def a humidity issue. This is our first attempt at ducks. Usually the muscovy is very broody. But this year she just wasnt in the begining of the season so we figured we would try it. Now she is and is setting. I spent the entire night cleaning that little duck. If you dont the more they emerge the yolk hardens and incases them. So I had to use warm water and Qtips every couple hours. But I was determined that at least one of these guys was going to make it! lol