Need help hatching duck eggs

[LBell21]

Hi all, I’ve been able to read some threads that have been really helpful. But I’m starting a new one because I need all the help I can get. I have been incubating mostly mallard eggs from wild ducks down the road who leave them. I have no ability to monitor their diet( I’ve read many of you say that’s important) I have 2 incubators. One with an egg turner and 1 for brooding. I get mixed messages for temp and humidity. I keep temp around 99.5 during incubation. I am wondering what you suggest for the brooder. And also what humidity? We have lost 7 now. I have 30 something eggs left. The first 6 appeared too wet when they came out. That is my fault. I believe I received bad info from a you tube video about spraying the eggs with water.... I have since stopped. Last night we had one start to pip and began breaking through. I tried to help it slightly with the shell. It looked like it couldn’t make it. It also came out looking more wet than I anticipated. But less wet than the previous. It looked like it was beginning to dry as it was coming out. They have all still had the yolk attached to them. Also, I placed this most recent one in a cardboard egg carton when I put it in for hatching. I was given that advise and pleasantly surprised when the duck pipped through unlike the previous ones. Please, any advise? Really trying my hardest to save these, otherwise they would’ve been eaten by animals before they had a chance. It’s very heart breaking and I feel like giving up and giving them to someone else .

 

[shawluvsbirds]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/?page=2

These are my go to guides for incubation by
@Pyxis and @WVduckchick

Hopefully these will help clear up some questions you have.

I hate to be a downer but I do want to let you know that your really not supposed to be in possession of wild birds or their eggs.

That said. . if you do hatch some that make it. .
An incubator is not a brooder.
You will need to have something else for a brooder once they hatch with a heat lamp or heat source of some kind.
Here's another link you can check out.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings.750869/

Hopefully these will give you some help.
I also believe the handling of eggs prior to incubation makes difference on hatching success, and in this case you wouldn't know how old these eggs are or what temperatures they've been exposed etc. So you've got that working against you as well.

 

[FortCluck]

I honestly think you should leave the wild duck eggs alone! A duck will lay eggs until it has a decent size clutch then sits on them... You are taking away this duck's clutch. Ducks also leave their nests to eat and drink.

Please stop taking these duck eggs, it's not fair to the duck that has been laying them.

Buy eggs from locals who have fertile eggs that are domesticated ducks meant to have human contact.

 

[Pyxis]

Definitely read those articles Shaw posted, they will help you out. Also, she is right, an incubator will not work as a brooder, you will need to get something else set up to brood them in.

If you really want to hatch ducks, buy some fertile eggs from someone that sells domestic ducks. You can even get eggs from domestic mallards if you want mallards specifically. But taking wild duck eggs is illegal; the birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Act and you will be facing large fines or jail time if you keep doing this and get caught.

 

[FortCluck]

Definitely read those articles Shaw posted, they will help you out. Also, she is right, an incubator will not work as a brooder, you will need to get something else set up to brood them in.

If you really want to hatch ducks, buy some fertile eggs from someone that sells domestic ducks. You can even get eggs from domestic mallards if you want mallards specifically. But taking wild duck eggs is illegal; the birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Act and you will be facing large fines or jail time if you keep doing this and get caught.

I was trying to find the laws on this. Thank you for posting this.