Jessie Taylor
Duck eggs can be hatched naturally by placing them under a broody duck or chicken hen, or through artificial incubation. Before setting duck eggs for hatching, it is important to candle them to check for cracks and the presence of a growing embryo. Candling involves shining a direct beam of light through the eggshell to examine the contents of the egg. While candling, it is crucial to avoid leaving the light against the shell for an extended period. Opinions vary on the ideal day to candle duck eggs, with some sources recommending day 4, day 7, or even as early as day 3. By day 4, some veining may be visible, and by day 7, the veins and embryo movement may be more apparent. It is recommended to discard eggs with no visible veins after 10 days.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of candling | Application of bright light to an egg to see what is inside |
| Tools for candling | Flashlight, egg candler, or a small Mag flashlight |
| Room conditions | Dark room with no light shining on the outside of the shell |
| Egg storage conditions | Cool, dry location with the pointy end facing down |
| Egg storage duration | 7-10 days |
| Candling before incubation | Check for cracks and seal them with softened beeswax |
| Candling during incubation | Check for a blood ring, indicating bacterial contamination |
| Candling after incubation | Remove eggs with dead embryos |
| Candling time during incubation | Day 4, 7, 10, 14, 22, 26, or 27 |
| Signs of embryo development | Veins, eye movement, embryo resembling a "spider", embryo filling the egg |
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Before incubation
Duck eggs are a little trickier to hatch than chicken eggs, as ducklings require a higher humidity level during the hatching process. Here are some steps to take before incubating duck eggs:
Set up the incubator
It is important to set up your incubator at least 24 hours before setting the duck eggs into it. This allows the incubator's temperature and humidity levels to stabilize, giving you the best chance of hatching your duck eggs. Place your incubator in a room that maintains a constant temperature, is free from drafts, and is away from windows and direct sunlight. Also, make sure that your incubator is located where children and pets will not bump or disturb it. Avoid bathrooms and kitchens as the humidity changes will be hard to control.
Prepare the duck eggs
If your duck eggs have been shipped, allow at least 24 hours for the yolks to settle and for the eggs to reach room temperature. Setting cold eggs in a warm and humid incubator will cause the eggs to crack and the embryos to die. Before handling the eggs, always wash your hands thoroughly to prevent bacteria from entering through the porous eggshell. Place the eggs into a cardboard egg carton with the pointed end down and set them in a quiet spot in the same room as the incubator. If you are holding the eggs for longer than 24 hours before incubation, prop one end of the carton up a few inches and rotate which end is propped up approximately every 12 hours.
Candle the eggs
Before setting your hatching eggs, you should candle them to look for cracks which could cause the egg to become contaminated and not hatch. To check for fertility, candle the duck eggs on day 7. If there are any eggs that do not have veins growing, look clear, or are cloudy, they are not fertilized and should be removed. While candling, you may notice eggs that have no veins but a dark ring, those eggs started developing but stopped.
Load the eggs into the incubator
Place the eggs into the incubator with the skinnier end pointing inwards. If you don't have enough eggs to fill the incubator, be sure to balance the load so the weight is distributed evenly. This will make it easier for the egg turner to turn the eggs appropriately. Once the eggs are loaded, test the egg turner again and watch the eggs to make sure they are all able to turn freely. Place the lid on and ensure it's on completely.
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During the first week
Candling is the process of shining a bright light through the eggshell to inspect the interior of an egg. Traditionally, this was done with a candle in a dark room, but nowadays, a flashlight or an egg candler can be used. When candling duck eggs during the first week, it is recommended to wait at least three days, and preferably five to seven days, before candling for the first time. This is because it can be hard to see anything inside the egg during the first few days, and you are unlikely to see much development.
When candling duck eggs for the first time, place the egg in a darkened room with the big side down on the candler. Shine the light through the egg and look for signs of veins forming and a tiny embryo. If there are no veins, the egg is likely not fertile and should be removed from the incubator. With practice, you will be able to identify fertile eggs by a dark dot, the embryo, and the spider-like blood veins spreading around the egg.
It is important to handle the eggs carefully during candling to avoid dropping them. Additionally, care should be taken not to leave the light against the shell for too long. If you are using an incubator, it is recommended to set it up 24 hours before adding the eggs and to allow shipped eggs to rest for at least 24 hours to let the yolks settle and reach room temperature.
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At 10 days
It is important to note that while lowering the temperature of a hatching egg merely slows down the embryo's growth, raising the temperature just a few degrees for even a few minutes can kill the embryo. Therefore, it is crucial to be cautious when removing the lid of the incubator or taking the eggs out. After misting, the eggs should be placed back in the incubator.
Some sources suggest candling duck eggs every day of incubation to observe the stages of growth. By day 10, you should be able to observe significant embryo development. The digestive tract, nervous system, and circulatory systems have formed, and the eyes, ears, and brain have begun to form. The embryo has leg buds, and the tail and bill have started to develop.
Additionally, at this stage, it is crucial to turn your duck hatching eggs every day. The embryo floats, so it will rise to the top each time the egg is turned. As the yolk, which also floats, rises, the embryo will be squashed between the yolk and the shell if the egg is not turned regularly. Commercial incubators turn the eggs at least every hour, while some turn them continuously.
It is worth noting that candling duck eggs at 10 days can also help identify any issues with the eggs. By this time, you should be able to clearly see the veins and embryo development. If there are any eggs that do not show signs of development, they may need to be discarded, especially if there are no visible veins.
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At 25 days
Candling at 25 days allows you to check for the air sac size and remove any eggs with dead embryos. It is recommended to candle duck eggs several times throughout the incubation period to ensure the ducklings are developing. The first candling is usually done at 5-7 days, then at 14 days, and again at 21 and 25 days.
After candling at 25 days, the egg turner is removed, and the humidity in the incubator is increased to around 75% or more. The temperature is maintained at 99.5°F. The ducklings are left in the incubator until all the eggs have hatched, and they are dry.
During the final few days, it is not recommended to candle the eggs, as there is not much to see inside the egg, and the duckling is preparing to hatch. However, if there is a hatching problem, you can compare the air sac size to a known good egg to check for incorrect incubation humidity.
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After 26 days
Candling is a term that refers to the application of bright light to an egg to see what is inside. It is important to ensure that the room is dark and that all the light from the flashlight or candling light enters the egg.
It is important to candle duck eggs before setting them to look for cracks that could cause contamination and prevent hatching. During the incubation period, you can also check for a blood ring, which indicates bacterial contamination. If bacterial contamination is detected, the egg must be discarded.
In preparation for hatching, duck eggs should be cooled and misted from day 10 to day 25. On day 25, the eggs are typically transferred to hatching trays, and the temperature and humidity are adjusted.
To ensure the ducklings' successful hatching, it is crucial to carefully handle the eggs and avoid dropping them. Additionally, it is recommended to mark the original eggs with a Sharpie or a pencil to distinguish them from any subsequent additions to the nest.
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Frequently asked questions
Candling is the application of bright light to an egg to see what is inside. The term comes from the traditional use of a candle to shine a light through the eggshell.
People candle duck eggs to check for cracks, signs of an embryo, and to assess whether the egg is alive.
Duck eggs can be candled at various times. Some sources recommend candling on day 4, 5, 7, 10, 26, and 27. It is recommended to candle eggs at least once before setting them in the incubator.
To candle duck eggs, use a flashlight or egg candler in a dark room, ensuring all the light enters the egg. Be careful not to shine the light on the eggshell for too long.
When candling duck eggs, look for signs of an embryo, such as veins, a tiny "spider", and movement. If the egg is clear and veinless, it is likely not alive.
