Welsh Harlequin Breeding Thread - People who are breeding or want to breed their WH's talk

[Zombified]

No WH's here(even though I REALLY want some!) I just wanted to say these ducks are all soooo gorgeous! Makes me jealous haha.

 

[maryhysong]

I have one pair of WH, a silver drake and a gold duck. Recently mamma was broody and hatched a dozen.


My girl is too light without enough fawn, but I have a trio that hatched in Jan and those girls look like they will have plenty of color. I'm only keeping one tho. I didn't realize ducks would be so easy..... I've had several incubator hatches with 90-100% success, and now this batch, have them coming out my ears and now the Muscovy is sitting on a second clutch too.

 

[Zombified]

Lol I hate you all for your beautiful birds. </3

But thank you for letting me oggle them lolol

 

[unkadan]

New at hatching duck eggs, I have 7 WH ducks laying here with a very nice drake taking care of them (I'll post some pics soon) my question concerns incubation. I've hatched a few hundred chicks this year but know the requirements for ducks are a little different.

I use an older 1202 Sportsman,,,,, what is the preferred humidity during the incubation stage and the hatching phase?

any help much appreciated

thanks in advance

Dan B

 

[maryhysong]

New at hatching duck eggs, I have 7 WH ducks laying here with a very nice drake taking care of them (I'll post some pics soon) my question concerns incubation. I've hatched a few hundred chicks this year but know the requirements for ducks are a little different.

I use an older 1202 Sportsman,,,,, what is the preferred humidity during the incubation stage and the hatching phase?

any help much appreciated

thanks in advance

Dan B

exact same dry hatch method, with high humidity during the last few days for hatching. I have been having 90-100% hatches on WH this year running 20-30% humidity first 3 weeks, then up it to about 35/40 at the beginning of the 4th week, up to 65% as soon as I see the first pip. This has been working for me.

 

[animalsRawesome]

Quote: What kind of incubator do you use? Just curious. Thanks!

 

[maryhysong]

What kind of incubator do you use? Just curious. Thanks!

I have a vintage redwood, about a 300 egger if I really packed them in there. The last owner bypassed the original wafer thermostats and put in a GQF electronic one. It holds perfect at 99 unless it runs completely dry, then the humidity drops to about 10% and the temp slowly creeps upward. But not usually past 101 for a short time before I notice and fill the water pan.

 

[Zombified]

How much do decent incubators cost? If I were to buy an incubator, what should I look for?

 

[animalsRawesome]

Quote: Oh, Wow! 300 eggs!?! I could definitely get myself into trouble with that. Haha

 

[maryhysong]

Oh, Wow! 300 eggs!?! I could definitely get myself into trouble with that. Haha

Oh yes, very easy to do, until the feed bill arrives ;-0