New to duck hatching...please help me here??

[ladybug99]

Hello
I started out with 9 shipped call duck eggs and to my surprise I am at lockdown with 4 of them actually still moving about inside and two more that are questionable. I have the humidity at 70.. should I make adjustments???

 

[sandracollins]

I have only hatched them under a broody hen but go to sundown silkie webpage and read what she says about hatching and helping call duck eggs if you follow her instructions you should be fine,good luck

 

[mickt]

Hi LADYBUG 70 should be ok if thats all you can get i incubate muscovy eggs at 55-60 and hatch at 70-85% and have never had a problem just rember to keep the incubator closed at all times when there piping and all should be ok let us know how you go.

 

[ladybug99]

I have some chicken eggs in there as well.. my last hatch of chicks was miserable due to low humidity....we moved the incubator to a more stable area and everything has gone fine so far.. the babies are due to start hatching out tonight.. there was movement in 4 eggs at the beginning of lock down and dark blobs in two more....this time we will not be opening the bator for any reason!! I am new to hatching and still learning....but I always find great advice here. I did check out the silkie site and wow what beautiful birds!! very informative sight as well

Thank you for your help.. and I will let you know what happens...

 

[sandracollins]

are the chicken eggs due the same time ?

 

[mickt]

yes chicken and duck have different incubation days and i have found that ducks need a little bit mord humidty in the incubation and hatch. being new to incubating i would try to keep to one breed at a time because you need to be fairly close to getting them to hatch out at the same time. a bad hatch can be a few things other then humidity but keep us posted and we will do what we can to help. regards mick

 

[ladybug99]

Yes, they are in there together, I put the chicken eggs in 7 days after the duck eggs....is this going to be a problem? I was told they can hatch out together.. well it is definately too late now.. I do see some of the eggs moving so .. so far so good. They will be kept in seperate brooders once they are hatched.

 

[sandracollins]

Duck eggs take 26 to 28 days my call duck eggs under my duck hatched on day 25 so you might have the ducks first .All I can say is they are sooooo cute but soooooo messy but I love them all, at the moment I have 4 4 week olds ,9 2 week olds, 6 week olds all in cages and pens and 4 3 day olds under a duck those 4 are the easiest

 

[ducklover15]

Wow, Ladybug, you and I are in the same boat! lol

I just went into lockdown with 4 out of 9 shipped call duck eggs. I would try to get the humidity a little higher. Try putting a wet sponge into the incubator or spraying water in through a vent hole. Call ducks seem to need more humidity than other ducks. Mine have always been super sensitive to humidity. Good luck!!!

 

[1234duck]

At lock down for Rouen Duck eggs my humidity is 80-83ish & temp is 99. they hatch best with humidity up. And DON'T Open bator at all especially once there is a pip. it makes it kinda hard trying to hatch both chicken & duck eggs together b/c humidity for chicken eggs isn't quite as high & chicken eggs are 21 days and ducks are 28 days to hatch but can take a little longer. its very important during incubation that the temp & humidity are steady. good luck with your hatch, ~Julie~ }}}To up the humidity i find it best to take 2 wash rags get them wet with real warm water then squeeze the water out, but not too much( a Little more than damp) lay them in bator. My humidity then goes up & stays real good.