Incubation of duck eggs: table and mode, development schedule by time at home

With the home method of breeding ducks, the question arises of additional incubation of duck eggs. This helps to increase the number of ducklings without involving hens in planting. An adult incubates 15 to 20 eggs at a time. To get more offspring, they use special devices, adhere to the established rules. Material rejection matters, as well as installation and temperature control.

Egg selection rules

Material suitable for incubation is selected according to established rules:

• in terms of weight: from 75 to 90 grams;
• yolk centered, protein transparency;
• uniformity of the shell and the traditional shape, the color is even, rich.

Information! To select eggs, use the technique of transillumination.

Eggs with the following characteristics are not suitable for further work:

• non-standard, elongated or flattened shape;
• if microcracks are visible on the shell, the shell is deformed, unevenly colored, has growths;
• if 2 formations are visible during translucence, suggesting the presence of yolks.

Transillumination is a procedure that is carried out using a special apparatus, an ovoscope.

Should eggs be washed?

Duck eggs smeared with bird droppings. Before removing the material on the incubation tray, it is thoroughly cleaned of adhering debris. Normally eggs are not washed unless they are more than 50 percent dirty.

Help! If the shell cracks during washing, then such an instance is removed.

Selection of equipment

Incubators are used for artificial breeding of ducklings. The task of incubators is to imitate the processes that occur with eggs if they are incubated by a duck. Incubators are devices that maintain the temperature level necessary for the emergence of chicks.

When choosing an incubator, it is recommended to pay attention to the function of careful temperature control and the possibility of timely adjustment.

There are 2 main types of incubators:

1. Manual. Incubators designed for private households, where the number of eggs does not exceed 100 pieces. They are equipped with spouts for filling with water, but the material is turned over manually.
2. Automatic. Various types of machines with an automatic system for moving the trays in which the material is located. Movement is carried out by moving the rollers or changing the angle of the tray.

Help! When hatching, the hen moves the egg on her own. This mechanism is inherent in the nature of the laying duck.

Laying and incubation

The laying starts after the eggs are rejected and the mode is set on the incubator. It is recommended to bookmark in the morning.

Bookmark Rules

How to properly lay duck eggs at home:

• eggs are marked on both sides so as not to get confused when turning from one side to the other side;
• The incubator is heated to + 38 degrees, the gutters are filled with water;
• before laying the eggs are kept at room temperature for 30 minutes;
• large material is laid first, after 4 hours smaller eggs are laid.

Incubation modes

Incubation modes change over time.

Summary table.

from +38 to +38.3 degrees, but no more75During this period, the eggs turn over about 4 times dailySecond week+37.8 degrees60 At this stage, start spraying the material for coolingDay 15 to 25 from 25 to 28 days

From which day to which day	Temperature	Humidity (percentage)	Features
First 7 days
+ 37.8 degrees	60	During pipping, cooling is necessary, it is carried out in the morning and in the evening for 15-20 minutes
from +37.5 to +37.2 degrees	up to 90	Reduce the temperature if there are many eggs inside the incubator

When breeding ducklings, temperature and humidity are of great importance. If the modes are not controlled, ducklings can die at any stage of development.

A special role is assigned to the cooling process. You can independently reduce the temperature inside the incubator using a spray gun. This helps to cool and moisturize the material at the same time.

Pour warm water into the container, spray evenly throughout the period when turning over.

Ventilation involves the presence of a ventilation system inside the incubator. Some models have constant air circulation, others require manual switching on of the fan at strictly defined hours. Future chicks absorb oxygen at a certain rate:

• from 1 to 2 weeks - 3 liters of air daily;
• one day before hatching - from 8 to 10 liters of air.

Information! Insufficient air supply leads to the death of embryos.

Fetal development

Ducklings hatch in 27-28 days. Each stage of development is characterized by certain features.

Chick development schedule:

Eruption begins, eyes open

Term	Description
First week	The circulatory system is forming, the rudiments of limbs are visible
Second week	Fluff appears on the head, the beak and eye holes are finally formed
Third week	The yolk is fully retracted, fluff appears all over the body
Fourth week

It will take up to 35 days to breed indoutok chicks. Mulard chicks hatch on the 30th day. In these cases, the processing time is shifted a few days ahead.

Rejection

Rejection helps to remove unsuitable specimens in a timely manner. The rejection is carried out according to the main features:

1. If a blood ring appears around the egg on days 1-6, this indicates the death of the embryo.
2. In the second week, the appearance of frozen chicks is diagnosed. They are identified by a darkening spot located in the center of the egg. However, visualization of the blood vessels is not possible.
3. At the last stage of development, those chicks that are not able to peck through the shell die. This is due to insufficient beak development.

Embryo death is caused by various pathologies:

• fetal infections;
• hereditary infections;
• high or low humidity inside the incubator;
• increase or decrease in temperature outside the permissible limits;
• disturbances in gas exchange processes.

First actions after birth

When the incubation period comes to an end, it is necessary to prepare for the next stage. Hatching takes about 24 hours. It is allowed to help the chicks only a day after the start of the destruction of the shell. Until this time, the chicks hatch on their own. Description of the hatching process:

1. Chick makes a hole in the shell with its beak.
2. After the hole appears, there is a period of calm, then a viable duckling begins to expand the hole.
3. Using support on its paws, the duckling completely destroys the shell.

If the position of the chick in the shell was wrong, a day after pecking it is helped to get out.

Attention! If the vascular network is visible when the shell is translucent, then it is not necessary to help the chick, even if it tries to peck through the shell. If the vascular network is destroyed from the outside, the chick will die.

After the ducklings hatch, you must follow the action plan:

1. Chicks are allowed to dry.
2. After drying, the gun of each chick is inspected. The beak and eyes must be clean. When palpated, the abdomen should be tight, but not sagging.
3. After that, the umbilical cord is examined. The best option - the umbilical cord is scarred.
4. All viable ducklings are transplanted into the prepared box.
5. Until 10 days of life, the chicks are kept at a temperature of +28 degrees.

One day after hatching, ducklings must meet certain characteristics:

• stand steadily;
• actively moving;
• devour food with gusto;
• down on the body is evenly distributed.

Common mistakes

Death of embryos or other problems that occur during the incubation period are due to the fact that poultry farmers make common mistakes:

1. Uneven heating. During cooling, lowering the temperature or airing, it is recommended to shift the material: from the edges to the center and vice versa. Lack of warming leads to higher mortality rates.
2. Fever. Fear of freezing chicks often leads the poultry farmer to raise the temperature. The heat stroke resulting from the increase in temperature leads to the death of the embryo.
3. Inconsistency in humidity indicators. If the humidity decreases too much, then the air chamber inside the shell increases. The chicks start pecking ahead of schedule. The result is the appearance of small weak ducklings.
4. Lack of ventilation. If you do not ventilate the material, then you can create conditions for the birth of chicks with all kinds of defects. Such ducklings do not stand on their feet, do not show activity, and may die on the 7th day after hatching.

Advice for beginner poultry farmers:

1. If you do not warm up the eggs before laying them in the incubator, then the hatching time may be late.
2. If you lay defective eggs that have not been culled, the total death of chicks is likely on the 2nd day.
3. Early hatching is possible when the temperature was excessively high in the second stage of incubation.
4. Difficult pipping within 24 hours is observed in cases where the moisture indicator is periodically violated during incubation.

Taking into account the mistakes of previous clutches helps to normalize the incubation, make the necessary corrections and get he althy offspring of ducks.

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