How would you go about hatching a duck egg without an Incubator? The incubator is very expensive to buy and maintain, so I thought it might be fun to try this out with my new duck eggs. There is a natural incubation method that can be done in the wild, but I wanted to see if I could do it indoors. In the previous article, we discussed about hatching process on bird egg without an incubator. In this article, we will discuss how to hatch a duck egg without an incubator.
How do duck eggs hatch?
The first thing you need to know is that duck eggs are not like chicken eggs. They have a shell that is much thicker than a chicken’s eggshell. This means that they take longer to hatch. A duck egg takes around 28 days to hatch compared to 21 for a chicken egg. If you want your ducklings to hatch faster, then you should consider buying duck eggs from a hatchery or managing fertile duck eggs that are already laid.
How to Hatch a Duck Egg Without an Incubator
There are two methods of hatching a duck egg-
1. Natural Hatching Method – Wild
2. Artificial Hatching Method – Indoor
Natural Hatching Method – Wild (Recommended)
This is the most common method used by people who raise ducks. It involves placing the duck eggs in a nest made of straw or leaves. The nest needs to be kept warm (around 98 degrees F). The temperature inside the nest must stay at least 10 degrees warmer than outside temperatures. The nest should be placed in a shady area where there is no direct sunlight. You also need to make sure that the nest does not get wet.
If you live in a cold climate, you may need to keep the nest in a heated shed or garage. Make sure that the nest has plenty of ventilation. Also, make sure that the nest is well ventilated when you place the eggs in it.
Another way you can follow is by using a broody hen that lays eggs regularly. Broodiness is a trait found in some birds such as chickens and turkeys. When a bird becomes broodier, it stops laying eggs and instead sits on its eggs until they hatch. It will sit on them for up to three to four weeks.
You can use a broody hen to hatch duck eggs. However, you need to make sure that you don’t put too many eggs into one nest. Otherwise, the hen won’t be able to sit on all of them.
Artificial Hatching Method – Indoors
You can also hatch duck eggs indoors. This requires a lot more work and expense. In this method, you will need to maintain temperature, humidity and light levels. For hatching duck eggs artificially without using an incubator first you need to make a cardboard box where you put the fertile eggs. You can place a dry towel inside the cardboard box. A light you need to set on top of the box to provide heat. Make sure that the temperature should be between 98 – 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is high then the embryo inside the egg will die. You need to maintain the moisture levels inside the box. To do this, you can need to moisten the washcloth several times a day.
You need to turn the egg 3 – 5 times a day. It will help to allow oxygen inside the box and exit carbon dioxide. When the duck eggs start to crack open, you can remove them from the box. You can now transfer the duck eggs to another container.
What if I am unable to find a broody hen?
If you do not find a broody hen you can follow the artificial method. But we recommended following the natural method because it is less expensive and easier.
How long will it take to hatch a duck egg?
Duck eggshells are usually thicker and harder compared to other eggs. So it takes a longer time to hatch a duck egg. Duck eggs normally hatch within 28 days but sometimes it could take 30 days.
Can I use a heating pad to hatch duck eggs?
Yes, you can use a heating pad to increase the temperature inside your room. Just make sure that you do not leave the heating pad unattended.
Can I hatch duck eggs with my microwave oven?
No, microwaves cannot be used to hatch duck eggs. Microwaves have a very short wavelength which means that they only penetrate through the shell and not the egg itself.
Do I need to buy special equipment to hatch duck eggs?
No, you do not need any special equipment to hatch duck eggs. All you need is a clean container, a towel, a light source and a thermometer.
How can I know when the duck eggs are ready to hatch?
There are different signs that indicate that the duck eggs are ready. First, you will see cracks around the edges of the egg. Second, you will notice that the egg has started to change colour. Third, you will notice that there is a hole in the bottom of the egg.
What happens after the duck eggs hatch?
After the duck eggs hatch, you will need to separate the ducklings from the mother. You can do this by placing the ducklings into a new container or by putting them back into the original container.
Final thought
Hatching duck eggs is fun for kids as well as adults. You can enjoy reading about the process of hatching duck eggs. The best part about it is that you don’t need to spend much money to hatch duck eggs in a natural process. In this article, we have discussed how to hatch duck eggs naturally without using an incubator. We hope that you found our article helpful.
