advice wanted

[girlracer265]

we decided to put some duck eggs in the incy, do they need anything different to chicks, i have a few weeks to get ready, so any/all advice appreciated

 

[victorias poultry]

Do you mean incubation or rearing of them?

Rearing them is hard in the cold weather especially when they start to have water to paddle in. Must be kept warm, bedding kept dry.

Sue

 

[Anonymous]

I read somewhere that you need to turn the incy off for half an hour each day with duck and goose eggs,to mimic when the mother would leave them to feed.I've never hatched duck or goose eggs so don't know if this is true or not.

 

[Anonymous]

forced air incubator @ 37.4-37.5 C and 50% roughly humidity . candled at 7-10 days and infertile eggs removed , just because they aren't clear doesnt mean there fertile ! .At 26 days put in hatcher same temp but 65% roughly humudity and the occasional light mist of water to stop them from drying out during hatching. don't be too tempted to help them out as ducklings are usually strong enough - some just like to take there time
i do this every year , and it works , althought once you've done it , you'll know what to expect the next time.
GL
Ben,
edit:
http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=821
useful !?

 

[girlracer265]

thx yh it was for both incubation and rearing, we have done quite well with our chicks this year
so we thought we'd give the ducks a go
i read all tims info, very useful tim btw
but i was just wondering if anyone else had any tips or tricks.
they are not due to hatch untill the end of january and they will be kept in a highsided brooder in a shed and then in a run inside a shed untill its much warmer now.

 

[victorias poultry]

When i rear ducks, I keep them in a high sided brooder, wire raised on the base floor with carpet tiles on one side and a thin lipped tray for the to paddle in once 10 days old. The water goes thru the wire into a collection tray which is emptied daily, carpet tiles changed each day also. They have a heat lamp on them but I don't hatch winter time (the ducks don;t lay!).

 

[girlracer265]

oh well thx for all this but every single duck egg candled infertile :evil: , so no matter, we will have another shot in spring