hatching 'scovies

[Denim Deb]

RU has a scovie female that's been laying eggs, but not sitting on the eggs. And, she'd love to get some ducklings. So, she wants me to try and hatch them out in the incubator. But, I know NOTHING about doing that! I was lucky I got the 2 eggs to hatch that I did. I tried doing a search, but couldn't really find anything. So, I figured I'd ask.

What does the temp need to be? Humidity? I've heard that while it can generally take 28 days for duck eggs, it can take longer for scovies. Is this true? When do you candle them? When do they go into lock down?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[BarredBuff]

RU has a scovie female that's been laying eggs, but not sitting on the eggs. And, she'd love to get some ducklings. So, she wants me to try and hatch them out in the incubator. But, I know NOTHING about doing that! I was lucky I got the 2 eggs to hatch that I did. I tried doing a search, but couldn't really find anything. So, I figured I'd ask.

What does the temp need to be? Humidity? I've heard that while it can generally take 28 days for duck eggs, it can take longer for scovies. Is this true? When do you candle them? When do they go into lock down?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

In my experience, I have not had one female who laid eggs who didn't set. If she will give her some more time she will do it. How many eggs has she laid? Clutch varies from seasons to ducks. I had one who sat 17 eggs in the late Spring and one who sat 6 in early fall. It depends on the duck so it may not be ready to yet. They are the best way to go. I am not sure on the temp, I know humidity is a lot higher. It takes 35 days for Muscovy eggs, I have never candled them since a hen always took up the job. They go into lockdown on the 33rd day.

Cindi will pop in and give you the info I'm sure!

 

[Wannabefree]

Pretty much what Buffmeister said The temp is the same as for chickens, the humidity should be much higher though. I think I run mine about 50% until lockdown, and try to hit 75-80% the last 3 days. They DO take 35 days...so there is a LOT of anxious waiting with the Scovies I generally candle at 10 days considering the length of incubation is so much longer for them. I would wait and see if that hen is gonna sit though. I bet she will. They are as good as silkies for broodiness. Then again, they're also fun to hatch in the bator too.

 

[rebecca100]

Scovies are usually very broody. I agree that it's just waiting to get enough up to do it herself. I knew someone that started out with one pair on a pond and ended up with so many she was practically giving them away by the second year. Duck eggs are a little harder to hatch than chicken eggs IMO.