Hatching Duck Eggs - The Basics

Hatching Duck Eggs ducks ducklings embryo incubator homestead farm incubate baby homesteading farming. Remember to SUBSCRIBE guys, I really appreciate it. Thanks. Leave a comment too if you like the video. This episode is all about hatching duck eggs in an incubator. I go over the basics and the dos and don'ts. By the end the ducklings have arrived. A little Old English Sheepdog screentime and a little barn kitten screentime. Lottsa fun at the farm as always. So awesome to see the little quacksters running around in the grass. Hope you enjoy the episode guys and thanks for watching.

[@wordswritteninred7171]

Omg! The Shepard dog. With red bow and bandanna. Too much cuteness!

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

Haha thanks so much, yes Molly is amazing.

[@tonymalaluan]

I love your enthusiasm. I myself am so looking forward to seeing my 12 or so Muscovy eggs hatch in 10 days. This duck raising thing is fun and hard work in equal parts...

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

That’s gonna be fun for sure. hope they all hatch for ya. Muscovy are a very hardy duck too. Bit a work but the ducks make me smile practically everyday. Cheers Tony, Chad.

[@lenny200181]

I have 2 Muscovys the mum rosey had one named Lilly Lilly just had babies

[@fancyonfourteen]

Who doesn’t love hatching out duck eggs! ❤️ We are doing the same right now on our homestead. Such fun times

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

Hah Yup. We're still a bit early here...too cold. But this yearly hopefully it'll be baby chicks, baby ducks, baby geese and baby bunnies lol. Cheers.

[@jonbigeffortthegoodness7437]

Really amazing presentation, great job of a duck free range extra worthwhile project that’s fun and beneficial. I’m enthused to raise a few ducks!

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

Glad you enjoyed it! I hope you do get some ducks they're a lot of fun. Appreciate you watching.

[@ShaneTallon88]

🦆🐣

[@arelyzeiervaldez4430]

Cool duck feeder!

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

Thanks so much.

[@yasssGURLY]

i love how you bring more ducks into this world you are amazing i just subscribed ☺️

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

🙏🦆🐣

[@sleeptighttonight8140]

Great video thanks. I just put 11 call ducks in a week ago . Hope the hatch. love your duck coop

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

That is awesome! Best of luck.

[@wordswritteninred7171]

My Rouen pair have a nest of 14 eggs. Started with 24. Some infertile two cracked. Two disappeared. Now, 14. At least one internally pipped today. I am so excited.

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

That’s awesome, it’s an incredible experience. Have fun with your cute little ducklings 🐥

[@johnnyharperscoutstable5386]

Now your a hatching expert bro. Hot dang. What a set up.🐸🍺🤙🔥

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

it's almost like I know what I'm doing eh Johnny lol...Almost. I was sorting through my tools today...gotta come up with a cool vid.

[@kathrynlewin9990]

Just joined your channel, just watched this video, loved it, regards Kathryn from New Zealand 💯 💕

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

Great! Thanks for that, cheers 🥂

[@julietalw]

You can get an adaptor and attach a hose to the water hydrant.... then no more carrying buckets

[@horizonofcreations]

My muscovy ducklings hatched today. I put 7 eggs and all of them hatched. They are very cute

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

That’s great news. And no losses. Awesome 😎 🦆

[@Jenny-si7ui]

So cute and lovely 🐣🐣🐣

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

You are so kind

[@Akasanaesp]

Fertile! That was such a cute video with all of the other animals too. So the kitties go back into the cage each night for safety?

[@wildedibles819]

Very cute congratulations

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

Thank you! 🤗

[@wildedibles819]

@@HiddenSpringFarm your welcome much love xoxox

[@cherylfiedler5761]

You probably know this by now but egg shells are porus so you should only marl them with a pencil. Love to see you coming along so well

[@pablolinares2801]

Great video! My rouen pekin cross are going to start hatching on January 5th

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

Wow exciting, watching them fight their way out of the shell is cool. It’s also amazing they can pretty much walk, drink and eat within the first day.

[@noahriding5780]

When you hatch ducklings... how do you keep the other hens from stopping to lay eggs? The 2 times I had my duck hens hatch ducklings, after getting 1 of them broody they all stopped laying for some reason. It seems to be that 2 went broody even though only 1 had the eggs to hatch but I had 5 or 6 duck hens and egg production plummeted while 2 were broody. It'd be helpful to know if there's a trick to make sure the others and as many as possible don't stop laying eggs while only 1 is broody. (We also had trouble with the cheap incubators but that's another story.) Thanks.

[@basyfogelman9946]

Thanks for the video! I am wondering if the eggs have to be placed pointy side down? Ive had them on there side as the directions said, there is an automatic turner and im afraid they may crack when turning if i put them pointy side down.

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

I'm sure every turner is different, it depends on your incubator. Mine the eggs lay on their side and roll when the turner moves. Some incubator turners have arms the swivel so the pointy end is down. Usually the pointy end should be down when storing or transporting as the shell is the strongest in that position, but for incubating it'll depend on your machine. If that doesn't help feel free to send me an email and I'll try to help further. Cheers, Chad.

[@moongypsyguerrero1925]

That water looks so yum and refreshing 💦 l

[@Editsfx_osha]

I’m getting three duck eggs and I’m really excited but I’m also scared they won’t hatch but thank you for this video this was very helpful even if this is old thank you!

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

Thank u for watching. Me too I’m excited to hatch our next batch but I gotta wait till spring in April. Good luck with your hatching. 🐣

[@Editsfx_osha]

@@HiddenSpringFarm thank you so much and I wish you the best luck aswell!

[@CRUMPETSHERE]

Hey mate had a question did you have to take them out after day 10.. 2once a day to cool and include misting or no?

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

I never take them out. I keep a tiny hygrometer inside so I can monitor the humidity and no I never mist. Important though when it’s the last couple of days not to open the incubator cause you want the humidity to be higher so the shell is softer so they can get out easier. Best of luck.

[@imsoz7741]

I’m on day day 22 there’s a lot of movement but the egg isn’t all black one side has nothing then the embryo on the other but it’s jumping around like crazy should I be concerned?

[@livingblessedministries278]

I know this is probably a dumb question but… Do the eggs have to be fertilized by a male duck or does the heat and moisture in the incubator make them fertile.

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

You need a drake to mate with the hens to make the eggs fertile. No drakes no ducklings just a plain ole egg.

[@aaronnauer2398]

also niacin in peas and i think sardines

[@scottcroft86]

How are you finding the incubator? Do you think it'd be worth the extra money for the next model up with humidity control?

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

no, I've done it with and without a hygrometer. This machine keeps the temp. steady and I just keep the little water reservoir full. I've had good hatch rates without even ever checking the humidity. If I ever upgrade it'll be to a larger cabinet style that does over 100 eggs. In my experience in these past two years all the eggs that have not hatched was because they were not fertile, the machine itself is great.

[@scottcroft86]

Awesome thankyou.

[@waddleinnhomestead]

What do you use to feed the adult ducks ? I’m Hank g a hard time finding duck food and have been using chicken feed my ducks are now starting to lay eggs not sure if I should be switching feed to layer chicken feed now I also have a few eggs in an incubator right now very exciting

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

Lots of fun eh. Water fowl feed is not available everywhere. I always use chick feed. But you got to use a non-medicated feed. When they’re young you need to add extra niacin for good growth in the feet muscles and tendons. Chick feed doesn’t have enough niacin. I use “Brewers Yeast”. Use starter feed for a few weeks until they’re a bit bigger then switch to grower feed. After a few months switch to layer feed. If yours are already laying eggs then definitely switch to layer. The eggs are amazing and more nutritious than chicken eggs…bigger, more protein and nutrients. Duck eggs will also change the taste of anything you bake-they make everything better.

[@waddleinnhomestead]

@@HiddenSpringFarm thank you

[@aos7194]

how many days did you wait after checking for fertility of the eggs, before checking on them again?

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

I check after a week, you’d see the dark embryo starting to grow by that time…No embryo then it’s not fertile.

[@Ducks-Dogs]

What does lockdown day mean? How old were they when they hatched? I have khaki campbell's as well. I am new at this, and I am at day 24 today. Thanks

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

Lockdown means a few days before the expected the hatch do not open the incubator, you want it as humid inside so the shells are kind of soft so they can get out. They hatch in approx 28 days. Leave them in the incubator to dry off first a day.

[@TheFishTankGuru]

What incubator do you use?

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

It’s a small round Brinsea, works very well…great hatch rate.

[@arnoldyinkai]

Do I need to help them break out of the shells?

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

Only if it’s been more than a day. The worst thing to do is open the incubator before they completely hatch cause the membrane can shrink wrap them inside. Only help if you need to, most of the time they get out by themselves. If you do need to assist them gently push the shell in with a small tool or tweezers, don’t pull the shell off. Best of luck

[@ElmaJoubert]

I need help asap. One of my duck eggs (mallards) had an air cell on the narrow end and is currently on day 30 and it doesn’t look like it’s moving anymore. It had a large crack (more like a hole), because my duck hadn’t made a nest yet and laid a few on cement, before being caught by a predator. It started turning blue, which indicates lack of oxygen. So I took off the tape I put over the hole. Should I start trying to help?

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

I feel like it might be your only chance. Our ducklings hatch between 23-28 days. Air pocket is normal but gets smaller as the embryo grows. I’d help if it were me.

[@ElmaJoubert]

@@HiddenSpringFarm Thank you so much for the advice. I took him out, but it looks like it was already too late

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

@@ElmaJoubert oh no sorry to hear. It happens though almost in every batch there’s one or two that just can’t get out the shell and if they do they’re weak.

[@sanreont2684]

In seven days bro got a beard 😂

[@wildedibles819]

Ducks are cute but we went with turkeys instead lol breeding pair But how do I get her to sit on them lol it be easier then trying to incubate them ;) Turkey eggs like it hot and my incubator is full of chicken eggs

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

our Rhode Islands have been sitting on eggs but then after a few days they kick a few out of the nest. They were rotten and she knew it. Must have started developing then died. far better hatch rate in an incubator though, but far more work to do. It's all good fun though.

[@wildedibles819]

@@HiddenSpringFarm yes we learn my incubator humidity was off I had 1rir hatch out of 9 eggs It's been really nice so I put a few eggs back to them and see how it goes

[@idahopotato5837]

How long can you save them up? I get 2 a day .

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

I’ve saved up to 8 days only and they hatch fine. Keep ‘em cool and dark until you’re ready To incubate. The way I think about it is a hen doesn’t sit on the egg she lays today or tomorrow…she sits once she has a whole bunch so the ducklings will all hatch around the same time.

[@TheSureshbalmacoon]

Did you mist the eggs?

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

no I don't mist the eggs when I use this incubator because it maintains a constant humidity inside between 40%-50% and we have a very good hatch rate. Good question.

[@moniwebb2293]

@@HiddenSpringFarm is 40 to 50 ok?

[@moniwebb2293]

@@HiddenSpringFarm its my fist time I'm on lockdown and my incubator says 80% humidity, others say it's supposed to be at 80 with a temp of 92.2 . I'm so confused. They are alive. What do I do

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

@@moniwebb2293 just let them hatch. High humidity makes it easier for them too hatch cause the shell is softer. If there are some that arent hatching within a day, you help them out.

[@livingron9983]

Made for kindy kiddies

[@SianDaleySpammingIt]

Heya. Do you know the sex of the ducklings when they hatched?😊

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

No not really, I can’t speak to all duck breeds, only these Khaki Campbells. once they start making duck noises the drakes grunt and the hens quack. After a few months as they develop into adulthood you can see the different coloured feathers too.

[@sammin5764]

👎🌟

[@sandramccormack6425]

We are in us do F%

[@dewaynebarrett125]

I need two females.

[@HiddenSpringFarm]

most times you get a 50/50 split between drakes and hens but I usually can't tell the difference until 2 months or so.

[@sammin5764]

👎👎👎👎