Tips for Hatching Muscovy Duck Eggs

Incubating and hatching Muscovy duck eggs is essentially the same as procedure as that used for hatching chicken eggs. Because duck eggs are larger, however, sitting trays need to be larger to accommodate them. Muscovy duck eggs also take longer than Pekin duck eggs to hatch; approximately 35 days after placing in an incubator as opposed to the 25 days in takes to hatch the Pekins. Temperatures and humidity need to be controlled and eggs need to be turned regularly and checked to dispose of those that are damaged or dead.

  1. Choosing &Storing Eggs for Hatching

    • Carefully inspect eggs and dispose of any that are excessively dirty, cracked, misshapen, oversized or undersized. Candle the eggs and dispose of any with double yolks. If eggs require storage prior to incubation, control the temperature and humidity of the storage area. Temperature should stay between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 70 to 80 percent. Eggs should be stored in clean flats with the large end up. Eggs should be placed in an incubator within the first three days after laying for the best chance at hatching. The longer you wait to put the eggs in the incubator, the larger your chance of loss. Prolonged storage for more than seven days will result in a linear decline in the number of eggs hatched.

    Incubator Temperature &Humidity

    • Fill water pans prior to use, and change water every three or four days throughout the incubation period. Still-air incubators need to be set at a relative humidity of 60 to 65 percent and at 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Recommended temperatures for forced-air incubators are a wet bulb temperature of 88 degrees and a dry bulb temperature of 99.5 degrees.

    Egg Turning

    • Muscovy duck eggs should be set large-end up or in a horizontal position, depending on the incubator. For best live hatching results, using an incubator that automatically turns eggs hourly is recommended. If turning eggs manually, place eggs on the long axis and turn them at least three times a day. Turning eggs hourly is preferable. Whatever the turning schedule, eggs should be turned an odd number of times per day. After eggs have incubated for a week, candle eggs again and discard any that are clear and infertile or cloudy indicating a dead embryo.

    Hatching Machines

    • Approximately three days prior to hatch, eggs should be transferred to hatching machines. Recommended settings during hatch are 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit with a wet-bulb temperature of 88 degrees equivalent to 66 percent relative humidity. Eggs in hatchers should not be turned. Clean and disinfect hatchers after each hatch.