Do not set eggs that are cracked, double yolked, misshapen, oversized, undersized or dirty. Select eggs to be set by carefully inspecting and candling them at the time they are put in setting trays. Most automatic turning devices are set to change the position of the eggs hourly. Eggs must be turned, either automatically or by hand, a minimum of 4 times a day. Set ventilation as recommended by the incubator manufacturer. Set the temperature at 37.5☌ (99.5☏) and relative humidity at 55% (84.5☏ on wet bulb thermometer). If the incubator is not already in operation, start the incubator and allow the temperature and humidity to stabilize a day or two before setting eggs.

Basic procedures and conditions for hatching duck eggs are as follows. It is not necessary to turn eggs in the hatcher. Eggs are automatically turned while in the setter (usually hourly). Pekin duck eggs are kept in a setter for 25 days and then transferred on the 25th day to a hatcher where they remain until they hatch on the 28th day.

When larger numbers of duck eggs are to be hatched, large commercial incubators (setters) and hatchers are normally used. Eggs from common ducks like Pekins require 28 days to hatch.Įggs from Muscovy ducks hatch in about 35 days after setting. Since duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs, setting trays must be designed to accommodate their larger size. Much of the information available on incubating and hatching chicken eggs can be applied to ducks, as long as the important differences between these two species are taken into account.

Duck incubator machines