Never hatched duck eggs, advice PLEASE!!!

[secretquail]

I just purchased some Appleyard duck eggs. I need any advice you all can give. I've hatched quail, but never ducks. Do appleyards need anything different? I see that the humidity needs to be higher, anything else? How long do they stay in the brooder? When do I introduce them to water for a swim? Sorry, I just want to do this right!

 

[Kelsykin]

ducks take 28 days to hatch. You need to mist the eggs when you turn them. or at least 3 times a day if you have a turner.

As for when they can go into water. You may want to wait and do it for short periods in shallow water and dry them very well. Until they start preening themselves they can get waterlogged and drown.
You may want to go to the duck section for more information on the after hatch care.

 

[zatsdeb]

I just hatched duck eggs and I kept my humidity above 50 all the time, and the last 3 days kept it about 90 and had a wonderful hatch. I also turned by hand so it was easy to check if the eggs were moist, and they were. I know people who also do mist them. I think you are not suppose to mist when you stop turning them. thats just how I did it.

 

[Kelsykin]

no misting when you stop turning. Just keep the humidity up as much as you can.

 

[zatsdeb]

I also don't let them swim until they are at least 3 weeks old, and then only in shallow water. I put a few inches in the bathtub and let them splash, under supervision! then back in the brooder to dry off! they shouldn't swim until they get their feathers. mine stay under a light a few weeks, then go outside but still have a light in thier nursery to keep warm. when they are feathered it helps, if it is warm outside. if not they stay in until it is warmer outside. right now mine are in the house and they are 2 weeks old wednesday. I have tried things to keep the waterer from getting drained because they will drain it! I put marbles in it and also set it inside a bigger container, I have the red plastic thing that you put a mason jar on, it sets inside a pan so the water doesn't go all over the pine shavings. ducks can drown when they are little. they are so neat though, you will enjoy them!! its better than tv!

 

[secretquail]

thanks for the info! I can't wait! How about food? can I give them the game bird crumbles that I feed the quail? Is there specific duck food?

 

[zatsdeb]

chick starter is what I give mine. they need that protein. also you need to keep water near the food because they wash down every bite, or they can choke.

 

[debilorrah]

chick start - yes. LOTS of water. I have 4 ducklings and they go through 2 full waterers a day. After they are old enough for regular feed, we use both game feed and lay mash. And sunflower seeds and waffles. Ducks LOVE seeds and waffles.

 

[loopy12]

I'm hatching duck eggs right now for the first time, though i have had ducklings before
. I kept my humidity at about 55% for days 1-25. Lockdown first thing on day 25 - I had 2 pips just 8 hours later, so don't leave it too late. The pips take days to start to zip though - very different to chicks. For lockdown my humidty is 70-80% and seems fine (4 hatched out so far).

I learnt the hard way that ducklings are very messy with their water, so a cardboard brooder was useless, and giant tote is better as can wash it out daily.

I let my ducklings swim from about a week old - just let them paddle in a paint roller tray or similar (paint roller tray works well as they have a slope with ridges to get down to the water). At that age I give them a 5 minute paddle then dry each one off and get them back in the warm. They LOVE it. I think they were 4 weeks or so when I put them outside during the day on warm days with access to a kiddie pool of water. Once they are fully feathered they can go out to the pond or whatever set up you have for them fulltime.
Hope that helps!

 

[secretquail]

wow! you all are great! I feel so much better about going into this so well informed! THANKS!!!!