The Poultry Keeper

Sylvia · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 7:24 pm Post subject: Duck Eggs Help

My female mandarin duck is sitting on a clutch of 7 eggs, if she abandons them as she did last year can I put them in my incubator and how do I judge the timing for turning etc. I think she has been sitting for about 10 days, (they have free range over 2 lakes and 2 ponds so I don't know exactly when she started sitting).
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

james419 · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject:

Not being an expert - yes pop them in the incubator and wait - ducks approx 28 days - but wait a little longer - one of our geese went 37 days before producing anything

Will keep fingers crossed for you

Die to put 12 runner duck eggs in the incubator tomorrow evening

Everything crossed at the moment and walking is difficult if not a little humerous!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sylvia · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 8:05 am Post subject:

Thanks for the reply James.

At the moment she seems to be sitting on the eggs and only coming out for a short time in the evening but, just in case she does get fed up I wanted to be prepared with knowledge of what to do about length of time for turning - is the 25 day turning critical? what will happen if I judge it wrong and am either over or under by a couple of days?

I have chicken eggs in the incubator at the moment, day 21 yesterday and by 7 this morning 4 of the 14 have hatched so wont have incubator free until Sat. or Sun anyway.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

nigel · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 9:33 am Post subject:

Stopping turning is not critical. I've had hens hatch as early as day 19 so they had only been stopped a day and they were OK. Judge it as best you can.

Sylvia · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 11:00 am Post subject:

Tack själv mycket Nigel, If it becomes necessary I think I will put them on the hatching mat rather than in the incubating cradles and turn them manually.

PS, Off subject - lived in Sweden over 30 years ago and that is about the only Swedish I can remember now.

sunnyside · Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 236 Location: Birmingham

I often have eggs turning right up to hatch. not found it makes any difference to hatch rate at all. ducks and chickens. If not sure of dates I think its better to turn a day too many then to stop turning too soon.