Hints for Incubating Duck Eggs

Incubating duck eggs will require an incubator, a thermometer and a room that does not fluctuate greatly in temperature. If you follow these simple guidelines you will have a batch of new born ducklings in under a month. Incubating eggs is a process of trial and error, so if you have a "bad batch" where few ducklings survive, revise your temperatures and humidity.

  1. Temperature and Humidity

    • Check the temperature with a cooking themometer for better accuracy.

      The temperature for most incubators should be set to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit for the period of incubation. Humidity should be set at 86 percent. This is a matter of trial and error as every incubator is different. Turn on your incubator a couple of days before you place the eggs inside and ensure the temperature and humidity stabilize. Have two trays of water inside the incubator for humidity, and keep one of them full at all times.

    Turning the Eggs

    • Mark one side of the eggs with an "X."

      Eggs should be turned three to seven times a day. Always turn them an odd number of times This will ensure the embryo does not stick to the egg shell. To stop yourself from getting confused, you can mark one side of the egg with a "0" and the other with an "X." You need to continue turning them several times a day until just a couple of days before they hatch.

    Candling

    • Shine the bright torch into one end of the egg.

      Candling refers to shining a bright torch into the top of the egg to check on its progress. Doing so will also allow you to see infertile and dead eggs. You should candle the eggs a week after you have placed them in the incubator. If you do not see veins and the inside of the egg is clear, it means it is infertile. If the egg is cloudy or dark inside, then it is dead or infected and should be removed from the incubation chamber at once.

    Time of Incubation

    • Young ducklings will find it hard to walk at first but do not help them, they need to learn by themsleves.

      Eggs need to be kept in the incubator for a 28 days. At about 26 days, they will begin to hatch and it will take the ducklings up to three days to get out of the eggs. When you see the first signs of hatching - chirping ducklings and cracks on the eggs - lower the temperature to 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit and raise the humidity to 94 percent. Keep them inside the incubator 10 to 12 hours after they have hatched.