To incubate duck eggs successfully, follow these key steps and conditions:

Preparing the Incubator and Eggs

• Clean and disinfect the incubator before use.
• Preheat the incubator for at least 24 hours to stabilize temperature and humidity.
• Set the incubator temperature to about 99.5°F (37.5°C).
• Maintain relative humidity at 55% during the first 25 days.
• Allow eggs to reach room temperature before placing them in the incubator to avoid cracking and embryo death.
• Place eggs with the wider or large end slightly up or on their sides, depending on incubator type

Incubation Conditions

• Maintain a steady temperature of 99.5°F for the entire incubation period (about 28 days for most duck breeds).
• Keep humidity at 55% during days 1-25, then increase to 65-75% from day 26 until hatching.
• Ensure proper ventilation as per incubator manufacturer recommendations

Egg Turning

• Turn eggs 3 to 7 times daily to ensure even heat distribution and prevent the embryo from sticking to the shell.
• Turn eggs gently 180 degrees horizontally each time.
• Stop turning eggs after day 23 to allow the duckling to position itself for hatching

Monitoring Development

• Candle eggs around day 7-10 to check for embryo development; remove any clear or non-developing eggs.
• Maintain stable temperature and humidity throughout incubation.
• After day 25, increase humidity to prepare for hatching and reduce temperature slightly if needed

Hatching

• Duck eggs usually hatch around day 28.
• Humidity should be raised to 80% during hatching to help the duckling emerge.
• Do not assist the duckling prematurely unless it is stuck and showing distress.
• After hatching, lower temperature to about 97°F and humidity to 70% for the ducklings

Following these guidelines will maximize hatch rates and healthy duckling development. The entire incubation process typically takes about 28 days, except for Muscovy ducks which take around 35 days