Whats the secret for hatching muscovy eggs?

[Red Maple Farms]

Quote:
I failed to mention that we do not hatch muscovies alone. They are usually set to hatch with a group of pekins or mallards which hatch more reliably. I get the impression that muscovies are more encouraged when they hear others chirping. The mother ducks tend to "talk" to their offspring during the hatching process, as do the siblings.

Normally we do not incubate muscovies. However, it was an early spring with erratic temperatures, and the muscovies began laying in March. Due to being afraid of the embryos dying off due to freezing temperatures at night, we opted to incubate.

I'd try a chicken.

 

[goosedragon]

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Keep in mind the difference in brooding times chickens 21 days, Muscovy 35 days. a Muscovy duck can hatch chicken eggs with no strain but 35 days is a loooong time for a chicken hen.

 

[Red Maple Farms]

Tail end of the current hatch. A mallard is drying out as a muscovy is breaking out.

 

[Bettacreek]

Quote:
Keep in mind the difference in brooding times chickens 21 days, Muscovy 35 days. a Muscovy duck can hatch chicken eggs with no strain but 35 days is a loooong time for a chicken hen.

But it seems as if the problems come at the end, when it's close to hatch time. If you stick the eggs under the broody after they've been in the incubator for a bit, it shouldn't be too big of an issue.

 

[Bettacreek]

Hmm, I wonder... If the other easy-hatching ducklings help the scovies hatch, would chicken eggs or quail eggs have the same effect?

 

[muscovy14312]

I broke open the egg that started to crack and it was really hard. the chick was still wet inside.

 

[Cairina moschata]

I had a broody banty mutt chicken hatch out 2/2 muscovy eggs last fall when the ducks wouldn't sit. She didn't seem to have any problems with humidity.

 

[Red Maple Farms]

Quote:
Broody chickens have been used to hatch ducks for many years now. Admittedly muscovies take a week longer to hatch out than mallard derivatives, but you have shown it would work.

From http://www.culverduck.com/history.asp

A.J.'s mother, Louisa, had also taken a role as many of the duck farmers wives did. She noted that ducks were not nurturing like chickens; so, she began to place duck eggs under chickens and found they would indeed hatch them. Soon, she was hiring local women to take her eggs to hatch; although the 1893 issue of Farm Poultry reads: "Hens were employed to do the hatching and brooding." In reality, Louisa Hallock employed the local women at five cents an egg. Broody hens were also purchased at a dollar a head to hatch out ducklings at the hatcheries.

Incubators eventually replaced the hens, but the first ones were fire hazards. Kerosene heaters provided the warmth. The eggs were turned by hand. Today, huge incubators control temperature to a constant 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit and maintain humidity at a careful 50%. The eggs are turned automatically throughout the four week incubation period. Pekin Ducks are especially good eaters; and, will consume up to five times their weight before they are processed. Developing the breed to give the maximum weight to feed ratio was a challenge Warren and each successive generation of Culver Duck Farmers has met head-on.

 

[shelleyd2008]

The biggest secret that I've heard about muscovies is they hatch best if they are under a hen at least part of the time. I have tried to hatch scovies 2 or 3 times, each time they get about the end of the third, beginning of the fourth, week and die.

 

[Bettacreek]

If they're coming next week, can I go on the search for a silkie pullet now? Can I put the eggs into the incubator, get a silkie pullet, convince her to go broody, and get the eggs under her in ample time? Lol.