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If you are looking for the best duck egg incubators, then you should read this article to the end.
If you keep ducks for their eggs, then an incubator is very important because it allows you to artificially incubate your eggs without any fear of damage to the eggs.
In this article, I will be showing you
- The 5 best duck egg incubators
- The pros and cons of each incubator
- Tips to ensure that you get the best product out there that serves your need
- Frequently asked questions from other users
- And so much more
Most people who use incubators in their farm run into a lot of problems and do not get to produce a large number of healthy ducklings
Last update on 2024-09-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is why it is very important that you get an idea of the type of duck egg incubators out there and pick the one that can help you produce a lot of ducklings in a short time.
In a hurry, check out our top picks
5 Best Duck Egg Incubators
1. Magicfly Digital Fully Automatic Egg Incubator
- Easy to Use: Magicfly egg incubator is easy to set up and use. Just press + or - to reach your desired temperature....
- Durable and Reliable: Made of durable healthy PP+ABS material, this simple and reliable egg incubator is fun for...
- Automatic Egg Turning: The auto turner can save the time you need to spend babysitting the eggs. (Kindly note that...
- Compact Desgin: Equipped with movable dividers, it fits 9-12 Eggs according to the egg size.(Usually, it can fits 9...
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: We provide detailed instruction manual, after-sales service and will be responsible...
Last update on 2024-09-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is probably the most popular and highly rated duck egg incubator that you can get today
It is a brand new and good quality incubator that is made from durable, healthy PB + ABS material.
It is digital and fully automatic and can fit between 9 – 12 eggs easily without any problems.
One very good thing about this duck egg incubator is that it is an automatic egg turner which means that you do not have to manually turn the eggs when incubating them.
It has an automatic temperature controlling mechanism that ensures that the machine and the eggs are in the right temperature at all times.
It is very affordable and unless you plan on hatching a lot of eggs then I see no reason why you should not go with this option.
Pros.
- It is very affordable and gives you lots of value for your money
- It comes with an automatic egg turner which saves you time and stress
- It is very simple with a quality design and no hard learning curve
- It is ideal for home use and for backyard
Cons
- The one thing I do not like about this incubator is that it does not hold more than 12 eggs at a time. This means that it is not ideal for bigger hatching tasks.
2. Farm Innovators Digital Circulated Air Incubator
- Incubator for eggs heats to factory pre-set of 100 degrees Fahrenheit within minutes, and integrated fan pulls in...
- Automatic incubator features a digital display that shows temperature, humidity, and days to hatch; high or...
- Eliminates manual handling for up to 41 eggs and deep bottom tray to accommodate even large duck and goose chicken...
- Large picture window provides 360 degrees unobstructed view inside the incubator, and the included egg candler lets...
- Egg incubator and turner features easy-fill water channels and sturdy foam material for durability; Measures 18...
Last update on 2024-08-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This particular incubator is ideal for hatching ducks because it circulates air inside which helps increase the hatching rate.
It is made from a durable hard plastic outer shell which protects the incubator from wear and tear and is very easy to clean.
It has an automatic egg turner which turns every 4 hours hence reducing the need for manual turning
It can easily hatch 41 eggs at a time which makes it an ideal choice for larger hatching tasks
It comes with a unique and integrated fan which pulls in and circulates fresh air to keep the temperature stable and also increase the hatching rate
It comes with a simple and easy to read digital display that shows you the temperature, humidity and days remaining to hatch.
It also has a unique high/low temperature notification light that flashes when the temperature is dropping below 97 degrees or above 103 degrees.
This will quickly help you take note and make the right corrections so your eggs hatch properly.
It includes an egg candler that helps you monitor the development progress of the eggs and comes with a big picture window that provides a 360 degrees unobstructed view.
Pros
- It is very simple and easy to use for both beginners and advanced farmers
- It has an automatic egg turner that reduces any manual interference
- It has a unique digital display that gives you the information you need easily
Cons
- You might not be able to easily adjust the temperature
3. Hovabator Genesis Advanced Egg Incubator
Last update on 2024-08-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is a high quality and high priced duck egg incubator that offers you quality when you need to hatch your duck eggs.
It includes a pre set electronic thermostat that is already set to 99.5 degrees
This means that you do not need to make any changes to the temperature before you start hatching.
It comes with an automatic egg turner that gently rolls the eggs six times per day and minimizes any manual interference.
It has a digital display that shows you the temperature, humidity and the
Using this incubator is quite simple because all you need to do is to plug it in, add water and and your eggs with start hatching
It has a universal egg tray which is ideal for different sizes of eggs
It can easily take 28 ducks at a time and is ideal for large hatching tasks
Pros
- It comes with a digital thermostat which means that it is not affected by external temperature, humidity or dust
- It has built in sensors that protect the eggs from burning
- It is very simple and easy to use and is ideal for beginners
Cons
- I simply could not find any negative thing about this incubator
4. Brinsea Products Mini Advance Egg Incubator
- Excellent visibility
- Fully digital menu driven controls
- Programmable automatic egg turning
- Count down to hatch day with auto stop
- Robust hygienic ABS plastics construction for easy cleaning
Last update on 2024-09-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This particular incubator gives you excellent visibility so you can see the eggs while they hatch.
It easily holds 7 duck eggs making it ideal for home use, hobbyists and small scale breeders.
It comes with a fully digital menu and controls that allow you to easily set and get the right settings for the hatching process.
It has a programmable automatic egg turner that helps turn the eggs during the hatching process thereby reducing any manual activity.
It has a unique digital countdown timer that counts down to hatch day with auto stop
It has a Robust hygienic ABS plastics construction for easy cleaning which makes it very durable and long lasting
Pros
- It easily provides details of the hatching process through the digital display function.
- It has external storage for water which helps regulate the humidity inside the incubator.
- It is very easy to clean and maintain
- It has rotating egg trays that turn the eggs quickly and safely without any danger of breaking.
- It can take up to 7 eggs at a time
Cons
- It is not a strong device so might need to be replaced as time goes on
5. R-Com Max Automatic Digital Egg Incubator
This is a higher priced egg incubator that will house 20 eggs easily and comes with an automatic egg turner.
It comes with a Universal chicken tray adaptable for the smallest up to Emu size eggs
This product is best and reliable as it uses the Swiss 3rd generation Sensirion’s temperature and humidity sensor.
The incubator contains automatic humidity and temperature settings, and also has an adjustment function
It also has a large view window that allows you to see the inside of the incubator without lifting the lid.
Pros
- The tray can easily take 20 eggs at a time
- It has a digital thermometer that ensures the eggs are hatching at the right temperature.
- It has an air control lever that ensure the eggs are at the right humidity
- It has a unique indicator light that alerts you to any fluctuations in the temperature inside the incubator
Cons
- It can take 20 eggs at a time which might not be okay if you want something with a higher capacity.
Things to consider before you buy a duck egg incubator
Before you go ahead and make that purchase there are some things you need to be aware of so you make the right choice.
1. Does the incubator have a thermostat?
This is without a doubt the most important thing you have to find out before you buy an incubator for your duck eggs.
This is because you want to maintain a constant and the right temperature while hatching the eggs.
Anything other than that might result in badly hatched eggs
So you want an incubator that will turn on and off the heat to maintain the right temperature all the time.
All the incubators reviewed above comes with a thermostat so you can be rest assured that you are getting one that works
2. Does it have still or moving air?
Another thing you need to consider is if it has still or moving air in the incubator
This is because you also want to maintain a consistent temperature inside the incubator so you want an incubator that has a circulating fan to keep the air moving.
3. Does it have automatic egg turners?
For me this is a big deal as I want an incubator that reduces all manual activity from my part.
So i definitely want an incubator that comes with automatic rotators or egg trays that turn the eggs from time to time.
The eggs trays allow you to rotate the eggs horizontally or vertically and it can be set at timed intervals.
4. Make sure it has the right humidity
Finally you want to ensure that the incubator you get maintains the right humidity at all times.
This is usually at 75% humidity and you want to make sure that the incubator that you get has a way to regulate the humidity at all times.
Should you wash duck eggs before incubation?
I saw this question being asked on a forum and I was a bit startled as this is something I have never thought about.
For me I do not wash or clean my duck eggs before incubation as I see no reason why.
But I will say you can do that only if it is absolutely necessary as most times cleaning the eggs before incubation can cause more harm than good.
How do you incubate duck eggs without an incubator?
If you do not have an incubator and you want to incubate your duck eggs, what you can do is to get an Excalibur Dehydrator Tray Mesh.
Here is one on Amazon that I found – Excalibur 14″ x 14″ Polyscreen Mesh Tray
What it does is that it allows airflow for the eggs and also secures footing for hatching the eggs easily.
So you place the mesh over some lids with water and place the eggs underneath
If you want more information about this process, click here to read this article
Can You Incubate Duck Eggs with Chicken Eggs?
As someone who has both ducks and chickens in my backyard farm, I can tell you that it is very okay to incubate both duck and chicken eggs together
The only thing to note is that the sizes of the eggs might be different so you want to go with a universal tray incubator to accommodate the different egg sizes
Asides from that, both eggs will hatch at the same temperature and humidity
How Do You Incubate Duck Eggs Successfully?
Here is a video I found online that shows you step by step
Do All Duck Eggs Take 28 Days To Hatch?
The incubation time for duck eggs can vary by breed, but on average, it takes 28 days to hatch most breeds. The Muscovy breed is one notable exception.
It can take duck eggs from this breed close to 35 days to hatch.
Should I Spray Duck Eggs During Incubation?
Most people want to know the answer to this question and one thing you need to know is that duck eggs should be left warm while incubating.
So it is a good idea to spray duck eggs with mist or water to keep them warm and moist while incubating. The misting helps keep the humidity levels high and the membrane moist which assists the duckling in hatching.
How Long Can Duck Eggs Sit Out Before Incubation?
Storing eggs for at least three days helps prepare them for incubation; however, fresh and stored eggs should not be set together.
It is best to incubate eggs within 7 to 10 days of their being laid. Hatchability decreases rapidly when eggs are stored for more than 10 days.
What Time of The Day Do Duck Eggs Hatch?
On average, gadwall started to hatch at a mean of 7.5 hr. after dawn and 80% of nests were observed starting to hatch between 3 and 10 hr after dawn (~08:00–15:00 hr local time).
Why Are My Duck Eggs Pipping But Not Hatching?
If chick embryos develop to the pipping stage, or at first shell cracking at hatching, they are normally healthy enough to hatch unless some incubator adjustment prevents it from happening.
The problem is usually caused by either 1) poor ventilation or 2) improper humidity.
