Muscovy eggs, hard to hatch?

[Bettacreek]

I really want muscovies. Two folks near me want scovies as well, one being a friend and another is giving me turkey eggs for free, so I'd like to help them get scovies as well. I have a Hovabator Genesis 1588 with auto turner, and have had good luck with hatching eggs so far. I have 19 mixed breed duck eggs in there out of the 24 that were started three weeks ago. Unfortunately, I've incubated call duck eggs and had them die before hatching, so I'm starting to wonder about incubating scovy eggs. Should I even attempt it? The mixed breed duck eggs are only the third batch of duck eggs that I've tried, my first two attempts were call duck eggs. I've heard that the call duck eggs are one of the hardest to hatch artificially, but will the scovies be difficult as well? If I am going to end up in failure if I try to incubate eggs, I'd rather hit the auction and get a pair or trio, even if they are in their last year of laying.

 

[Bleenie]

They aren't near as easy as other duck eggs. I have had perfect hatch rates with buff eggs and then only 50-80% with muscovies. it's always best for momma to hatch them but i know you don't have that available.

I shipped some eggs to a BYC'er a while back and she only had 1 hatch out of i think 17 eggs. I have had good rates with my incubated eggs and excellent rates with my broody mommas. it just seems like the eggs are very sensetive to changes in humidity and temp.

then agin, i just had a batch of eggs hatch from the incubator that i nearly forgot about, they were still in the turner when they started hatching! about 8 of 14 hatched.

ETA: you can let a chicken brood duck eggs too, with very good hatch rates.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

I never use an egg turner with duck eggs and definitely not with Calls. I have a 95% hatch rate with my own eggs and with the shipped Muscovy eggs I've had a 90% hatch rate.

Laurie