The Un-Official Duck Incubation Thread

[yotetrapper]

Hey ya'll. I have been using the search function on here looking for duck incubation info, and it's really scattered. A good post here and there with a bunch of not so good posts. There's thousands of scattered duck incubation posts. I'm in hopes this one thread can become the official thread for Q&As about duck incubation.

I can't incubate ducks. In fact, I feel like a duck murderer. They all grow to full term, but never pip, and never hatch. I usually attemp to hatch them in the same cabinet incubator as my chicks, which runs at 45-55% humidity and 99.5 temp. At day 25 I transfer into a tabletop Genesis, and up the humidity to between 60%-70%. And no ducks hatch. So, I must be doing something here wrong.

Now, here's the thing. I lost my only appleyard hen last month. Now I have one lonely drake. He wants his hen. To order ducklings would be a minimum of $75 for me. So, I found a real good deal on appleyard eggs, and ordered some. I'd hoped to have a broody something by now, but I don't. So please, help me hatch these eggs! I can dedicate a genesis incubator, or a tabletop still air, or use the cabinet, but, can someone talk me through how to do this?

 

[chickboss]

Ummm.. just checking, probably silly, but what day are you expecting them to hatch? From the way your post reads it seems like you are expecting them to take 21 days, like the chicks. Ducks are closer to 28 with Muscovys hatching around the 35th day. Did I read it wrong?

Great idea, BTW, my first duck eggs are in the bator right now, so I am a total newbie. Apparently hand turning duck eggs is much prefered to using the Auto turners. Scott does have a pretty good thread going on hatching Calls, and I am sure a lot of that info would be useful. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=306686

I'll be watching/asking/adding.

 

[yotetrapper]

Agh, didnt even catch that, no, I knew it was 28 days. I transfer my ducks on day 25. Just so used to hatching chickens day 18 was stuck in my head...

My eggs should be arriving today or tomorrow. Any more help and advice appreciated.

 

[duckyfromoz]

I get better results hand turning my duck eggs. I also spray them with a mister every third day as well.

 

[yotetrapper]

Now I've heard people talk of spraying eggs. Do you just spray them right in the incucbator? Also, any reccommendation on still air vs forced?

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I am not a duck expert however I have had good luck with my muscovys hatching. Are you taking the eggs out everyday (after the first week of incubation) and letting them cool for 15 minutes and then wetting them down with warm water?

When I am in a hurry I will just mist them with warm water instead. This seems to help soften the hard shells a little. Also, my best hatches are coming when I fill the water wells full in my brinsea eco and let the eggs incubate in there. I didn't monitor the humidity so I can't help you there. I kept the vents 1/2 open also so that the moisture stayed in.

On lockdown I just made sure the water wells were full and then left them alone. 6 out of 7 hatched the first time and 5 out of 7 hatched the second time.

 

[yotetrapper]

Quote:
No, I've not misted them. You take them out, let them cool for 15 minutes then do it? Sheesh, and here I was worried about having eggs out for the 3 minutes it took me to candle....

 

[duckyfromoz]

Ok..maybe i should have elaborated... I bought a still air foam incubator and for the first trial run I had some mixed eggs from my own ducks- had a good hatch for my first attempt 13 out of 20. They were in the auto turner - air sac facing up. I had some too dry and some sticky- so I realised I had hot and cold spots inthe incubator. So I did install a fan . Most of the next eggs were all posted- so comparisons werent made in hatch rates. I turned the eggs 3 times a day for the first ten or so days and twice a day after that. I leave them in the bator to spray them. The third setting of eggs I had- I tried some inthe bator and hand turned some. I had a much better hatch rate fromthe hand turned eggs- So have been doing it that way ever since. I have had around 90% hatch rates lately. Also If your eggs are being posted- it is better to let them sit for 24 hours after transport to allow the eggs to settle. Air cells can become detached during transit - I always used to candle posted eggs to check for any cracks or floating air cells.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I know they can set out for a bit to cool because that is what the mama duck has to do. She has to eat and drink and that take a little bit of time. Then she comes back to sit.

Maybe just to be on the safe side, only let yours cool for 5-10 minutes. I would hate to be the reason yours don't hatch. I just bought a duck book so I will check for you to see what they say.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

One book had no info but the Storeys guide said that on days 4-26 to lightly spray with 100 degree tap water--it didn't say anything about cooling them.

I cooled mine but that was because I had geese eggs in there too and I was told to cool them for 15 minutes.

At least they all hatched good!