Trouble hatching duck eggs in incubators

[pro 21]

The main reason for unsuccessful hatching in duck eggs is not humidity but more usually the positioning of the egg itself. Duckling pre hatching create energy by thrusting their beak at the shell wall. If the egg is not in a secure position then it will rock slightly. Unfortunately most observers get excited by this egg rocking as it is sure evidence that there is a live chick inside, this is not something to observe admiringly. What is happening is that all the energy being directed by the duckling in trying to break the shell is merely dissipated into the rocking motion. The net effect of all this outward motion will be firstly an exhausted chick and eventually a dead one.

The first thing to remember is that all chicks given the right conditions will hatch successfully. With ducks you need to change the style of conventional incubators into something more akin to a ducks nest. This can be achieved by building a nest with tissue paper inside the incubator. Turn off the auto turn (if applicable) five days prior to hatching, day 23. Place some tissues in the floor of the incubator and raise sides to make a shallow bowl shape. Place the eggs in the nest so that they are not free to move, either trapped by neighbouring egg or the tissue sides. Turn eggs manually two or three times over the next two days only. If you observe any rocking of the eggs pack up the sides more tightly. The ducklings will then hatch unaided and healthy.

 

[learycow]

This is a good idea. However, I put mine pointy end down in egg cartons for hatching. I stop turning them on day 26. And I do use the auto turning until then.
I have had EXCELLENT hatch rates doing it this way. I recently hatched 18 out of 20 this way with the last 2 dying in the shell (one had internally pipped, the other hadn't)

But I've found it is different for everyone and also depends on the incubator being used