The Un-Official Duck Incubation Thread

[bumblebeehillschickenfarm]

I also have so much problems with my ducks eggs. My muscovey eggs i average about 1 egg out of 10 to hatch, so i leave it to mother nature to hatch them. I cant beat mother hen. I set 40 mallard eggs 30 days ago. After day 10 i checked them and only 3 clear. Checked them on day20 all eggs are looking great no problem with them. I am hatching them in a Hova Bator 1588 i filled all water spots because it is dry here at the time. Air space looked great for an additional 8 days to go. Time to hatch,only 4 ducks hatch,and hatched a day early. I was thinking i was going to have a great hatch this time.Left the baby ducks in for 24 hours and had to get them out so i checked some of the eggs and all of them are dead. They look to be around day 23 that they died. I also have a Dickies incubator and have the same results with it. So any good duck hatchers i would be greatful for any help.

 

[chickboss]

Quote:

Yay!

 

[katharinad]

Hatching humidity should be 75-80%. Start misting them from day 4 on until hatch. Even during lockdown they need to get misted. Make sure the water temp is 100 degree when misting. I simply fill a pump spray bottle with hot tap water.
Katharina

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I didn't know that about misting during lockdown. So you open your incubator to do that?

 

[Brickman House]

I ran my last duck egg hatch in a King Suro at 99.5 F and 55% humidity for days 1-25, and low 70's % for the last three days. Had a great hatch (15 out of 17) with no misting, no cooling.

A few thoughts come to mind for you:

1/ I assume your cabinet incubator has a fan? If not, add one.

2/ Have you calibrated both your thermometer and hygrometer? Both can be WAY off, seriously compromising your hatch.

3/ If you're sure your thermometer and hygrometer are correct, then you might consider incubating your chicken and duck eggs separately, and bumping up your humidity for the duck eggs. Also, I find that my hatches do better running a tad bit higher temperature-wise (99.7 F), though that might just be an individual thing.

 

[yotetrapper]

Yes, my cabinet has a fan. It is a Kuhl cabinet holding 600+ chicken eggs, big industrial thing that runs like a charm. It's been running at a steady 99.5 for 2 months now, and the chickens hatch fine. Right now I'm leaning towards putting the ducks in a hovabator, and keeping seperate from chicken eggs.

What is the optimal humidity for the first 25 days? 55%?

 

[chickboss]

That's what I've heard, but I know someone who keeps it at 40% and is having really decent hatches. Bumps it up at the end, like normal. May be a regional thing, in terms of what humidity level works for some.

 

[chickboss]

Quote:
LOL, that is a big bator! I'll tell my husband he can now quit going on and on about how our Dickey can hold 288 chick eggs. LOL. I would do them seperate. I won't even get into mixing eggs until I have some decent hatches under my belt. But I am REALLY green, so I am keeping it simple.

 

[yotetrapper]

Here's a pic of my cabinet. And here's the link. Mine's a slightly older model though, no digital read outs like these ones have.... http://www.kuhlcorp.com/cgi-bin/cp-...ine-poultry-incubator:machine-poultry-cabinet

 

[katharinad]

Quote:
My Holderread Duck books says to mist every 24 hours during lockdown. I use 100 degree water so the short humidity and temperature drop does not seem to be a big issue. I've checked both and they are back up within 5 minutes. Not enough time to effect the eggs.
Katharina