How Often Should I Turn Mallard Duck Eggs?

When hatching duck eggs, there are several factors that must be meticulously studied and kept accurate such as heat, humidity and turning. Heat and humidity are common knowledge, since most know that ducks are hatched after a mother duck keeps them warm and moist by sitting on them. Less widely realized is that, in nature, eggs are turned several times a day by the movement of the mother and that this is an evolutionary tactic for the egg's survival. Turning the egg prevents the embryo from adhering to the side of the shell, which often causes the egg to fail.

  1. Marking the Eggs

    • Using a felt-tipped pen or a soft pencil, mark each egg with a line on one side, or a circle and an "X" on opposing sides so you can keep track of which side has been up. It is important that you turn the eggs an odd number of times each day, so that no one side is up or down for dominant amounts of time.

    How Many Turns

    • Turning is important throughout the incubation process, but the first five to seven days is the most essential. Mallard eggs should be turned a minimum of three times per day, but the more you can turn them, the better. Once again, keep track of the number of times you turn the eggs, ensuring that they are turned an odd number.

    Turning the Eggs

    • Remove a dozen eggs from the center of the incubator and gently roll the others toward the center, replacing the center eggs along the perimeter of the others. This is not only an easy way to turn the eggs, it also redistributes the eggs, which ensures that if there is a heat-central position in the incubator, no eggs will be concentrated there for long.