Tips for incubating ducks in an incubator

Duck incubation is very similar to chicken incubation process, the information of which could be attained in a great deal. Remember to choose premium fertile eggs with care, se the temperature and humidity correctly according to instruction, turn the eggs regularly, candle the duck eggs when incubated for 8 days, and take measures accordingly. After all of these efforts, it is quite hopeful that the result would be quite rewarding.

1. Choose premium duck eggs
2. Set the eggs
3. Candling duck eggs
4. Duck eggs hatching

 1.Choose premium fertile duck eggs

The incubation process should be controlled strictly from the beginning. Actually, the eggs choosing plays an essential role in the full incubation process. Always go for eggs that are of standard size and are freshly laid. Discard eggs that are dirty, shell-cracked, double yolked, misshapen, oversized or undersized. It will be ideal if eggs can be set within 1-3 days from the time they were laid, which will be highly beneficial for getting high hatchability. Eggs stored for 7 days before setting, the hatchability will decrease by 3%; stored for 14 days, hatchability will decrease by 10%.

 2.Set the eggs

If the eggs are stored in a cooler, they should be first warmed to room temperature and then set in the egg incubator with the ideal environment. Always set the eggs with the large end up for healthy embryo development. Before setting eggs, assure that the incubator works properly. Only set the eggs when the incubator environment exactly satisfies the required parameters. After setting eggs, also check the environment condition regularly to avoid possible failure of the incubator functions.

 3.Candle duck eggs during incubation

In order to find out infertile eggs or dead embryos in the early stage, candling is an essential work. Candle the duck eggs on the 8^th day of the incubation and then compare the results against the standard candling map or the following instruction, then judge which eggs should be taken out, to avoid contamination to other healthily-developed eggs. If the embryo develops too fast, usually the reason lies in excess temperature, vice versa. During incubation, the air sac size should increase, because the moisture evaporates from the eggs. If the air sac size increases too rapidly, it implies that the humidity is probably too low. On the contrast, the slow air cell expansion usually results from high humidity. These parameters should be adjusted according to candling results, so as to remedy the situation, to prevent deterioration.

 4.Duck eggs hatching

On the 25^th day of normal duck eggs incubation, or 31-33^rd day of Muscovy duck incubation, duck eggs should be transferred to a hatcher. Remember not to turn the eggs during the hatching period.