Muscovy eggs and chicken eggs together

[Missyjticer]

I didn’t think my Muscovy ducks were laying, and my Drake is injured, so I just figured I wouldn’t have any babies right now. I started some chickens in my incubator and they’ll hatch on the 23. Last Friday I was surprised to find where my ducks were hiding their eggs. I put them in the incubator thinking they probably weren’t fertile. They all have veins when I candle!

So here’s my problem…

The chicks are going to hatch way ahead of the ducks and walk around kicking the eggs like they do. I’m worried they’ll damage the developing ducks. I don’t have another incubator.

Anyone have experience/advice on keeping them separate and warm while the chicks hatch? Can I put them under a heat lamp or something for that 24 hours then put them back in the incubator?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A heat lamp will just dry the eggs out. It's okay for a short while, but 24 hours would probably be too long.

 

[Luv Ducks]

A heat lamp will just dry the eggs out. It's okay for a short while, but 24 hours would probably be too long.

I have actually put my duck eggs in a styrofoam cooler with a cup of water and a reading lamp with a 40 watt bulb over them. The temperature was 100 degrees in it and the humidity around 50%. I have hatched out 6 different ducklings this way. Only two at a time using my own eggs from my Hens. Out of six eggs two would hatch. I recently bought a cheap incubator online and only got two to hatch out so the results were the same. Good luck with yours.

 

[Yardmom]

Any way to make a divider?