Hello all,

I'm hoping someone with a little more experience can offer some help here. A few weeks ago I started finding eggs around the duck pool. I went and purchased an incubator since it didn't look like the mama(s) had any intention of nesting or setting, and I thought I'd try my hand at incubating ducks and Buff Orps.

So the first 3 eggs were due to hatch on 11/8. On 11/6 the first egg piped, on 11/7 the second egg piped and rolled around the incubator all day. The first duckling kept pushing at the hole, but made no progress. I thought I was not supposed to help it and so waited until this morning (11/8) to intervene. The results are, the first duckling to pip(e) was dead when we removed the shell. The 2nd is still living, but it is unable to stand or walk. I have been hand feeding it a few bites and giving it sugar water. Do yall think it can be saved?

From what I've read could this be due to the temp being too high? I have 3 different thermometers in the incubator and they range from 99 - 100. The humidity was 60-65% until the first egg piped I then raised it to 70-75%.

Also the incubator accidently got unplugged on 11/6 the day the first egg piped. It was only off 4-5 hours, could this have had any effect on the babies?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

-- Devera Morgan (anatida@hotmail.com), November 08, 2001

Answers

I never had much luck hatching duck eggs until I started actually sprinkling the eggs with warm water twice a day when I turned them. The mamas in nature get off their nests a couple times a day and take a swim and then come back to the nest.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), November 08, 2001.

I'm not sure what to say. I hatched out over 2 dozen ducks this spring with no problems. I have a cheap styrofoam incubator. I kept the water resevoir full at all times. I do know that once they start hatching, you are not supposed to open the incubator at all. You will lose too much humidity with each time you open it. I know that's hard, but a big must. Getting shut off for that long might also have had an affect because the temperature would have dropped pretty low in that time.

-- Wendy (weiskids@yahoo.com), November 08, 2001.

Devera, Post your question on The General Waterfowl Forum of The Poultry Connection. Many experts on brooding and hatching of duck eggs there and all of them are eager to help. You will find a bunch of nice folk with a lot of experience in using 'bators. Good luck. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), November 08, 2001.

Ducks eggs 38ºC 100.4º 28 Days at 50%RH (aftereggs pip 70%RH or more Hope this helps.....

-- Warren (w.baucom@worldnet.att.net), November 08, 2001.

I've hatched chickens,ducks,and turkeys in a styrofoam incubator, and have always fed my new hatches, (especially turkeys and ducks) an egg yolk for the first day or two after hatching. Some people will tell you that it will cause the bird to become an egg eater, but that is simply not true. The yolk is its natural food when it is in the egg, and it doesn't know where the yolk is coming from anyway. Feeding them an egg yolk will help the weakest chicks. Just put the yolk into a small saucer, break it up with a fork, and dip the birds beak into the yolk. Do this every couple of hours for the first day.

-- kathy in ohio (katelyn_123us@yahoo.com), November 09, 2001.

Feeding egg yolks is good for them and chicks and ducklings love it. but always cook them first! No raw eggs! Can you spell Salmonella? LOL We eat them cooked and cook them for the poultry and the dog. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), November 09, 2001.