Total newbie - our Pekin ducks just started laying - is it too early to try to incubate eggs

[DuckMagistra]

We have 3 female ducks and 4 males (obviously need to get rid of a few). They do get along pretty well and nobody has gotten harmed during the mating process (yet). They just started to lay eggs last week. Is it too early to try to incubate eggs? We'd like to start before the cold gets here in TN. Also, thoughts on a decently priced incubator for kids to learn with. We want to do at least 12 eggs at a time. P.S. Not our duck, but looks like her!

Andrea

 

[chickenlittle21]

My pekins have just started laying too! I am waiting about a month until incubating the duck eggs to make sure they are properly fertile and to make sure they are produced properly (no double yolks, soft shells, etc.).

 

[Anime2lover]

We have 3 female ducks and 4 males (obviously need to get rid of a few). They do get along pretty well and nobody has gotten harmed during the mating process (yet). They just started to lay eggs last week. Is it too early to try to incubate eggs? We'd like to start before the cold gets here in TN. Also, thoughts on a decently priced incubator for kids to learn with. We want to do at least 12 eggs at a time. P.S. Not our duck, but looks like her!
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Andrea

You can indeed incubate. But the chance of fertility is lower since they are still inexperienced and young. You want eggs with no defects such as soft shell, odd shapes because those things can cause problems for incubation and hatching sometimes.