[nettelein]

Hi there everyone
I have just stumbled across this webside and thought to myself, why not register and share.
OK, a little bit about me. My year hasn't started that well, sadly I lost my 15 year old ducks to a fox a few weeks ago. 15 years is a long time and they had a great life, just so sad they are gone now and I miss them madly!
With spring on the way and hours in the garden I have decided to start again. I just can't bare the empty garden, without the ducks by my side. As with my last lot, I've decided to hatch the eggs in an incubator. I'm a bit nervous, it's been a long time and the last time I wasn't on my own. So, the incubator is ordered and on it's way and once received and set up and tested, I will get the eggs. I spent the last few weeks reading everything available on the net to prepare myself. However, you always stumble across differences of opinions, so I hope that some of you can give me some occasional advice.
So, here's my first question:
How many eggs should I get? I would like a minimum of 4 ducks, but when do you ever get a 100% success in hatching eggs.
Also, I've read that eggs produced early in the year you are more likely to produce ducks, while later in the year there is more of a possibility that you hatch drakes. Is this true?
So here we are for now. I don't want to bombard you with too many questions all at once.

[Brijjy]

Hello. What sort of ducks are you going for? I hadn't heard that earlier hatches produce ducks and later hatches produce drakes. I've generally found that it's a rough 50/50 split, perhaps slightly favouring drakes. Depending on the size of the incubator you are getting depends how many eggs you can hatch. I've got a Brinsea octogan 20 and I could get about a dozen duck eggs in it. You could probably fit more Call duck eggs in it though.

[nettelein]

Hello back!
I'm not too keen on "ornamental" ducks (if that is the right word)
It's got to be Aylesburys, I just love them big. Silver Appleyard I like too, but Aylesburys are my first choise. If it wasnt for the neighbourhood I would keep geese to be honest.
I love Sebastopol geese, But my husband isn't too keen. I myself grew up with geese, ducks and chickens as great part of my childhood. Thanks for your advice on the duck/drake question, it did seem a bit far fetched.
What success rate have you had with the brinsea?

[colliewoman]

If you are allowed to sneak a couple in, I could let you have some Chinese Goose eggs soon, they are getting ready to lay...
Chinese geese hardly count as geese....

[Brijjy]

I have only good things to say about the Brinsea incubator. I did lots of research before buying it. Although more expensive than some makes, it is made in Britain and easy to get parts for. Their customer service is really good too. I reckon it's easy to use and my success rate has been around 90%. I bought some appenzeller hatching eggs off ebay last year and they all hatched I have hatched ducks and chickens using it, though obviously not together.
I keep Muscovy ducks myself plus Chinese geese and a variety of pure bred hens. When you get some hatching eggs just check them over before putting them in to incubate. Some people wash eggs and some don't. I personally don't wash eggs first just brush the worst of the dirt off.

[Brijjy]

The only thing with Chinese geese is that they are very noisy. I love them and luckily so do my neighbours but they don't half make a racket 

[nettelein]

That's very kind, but like I said, my husband isn't keen. As soon as I sneak them in, he'd sneak them out again. Ducks it is and I'm happy for now. Just hoping all goes well. My friend has got chinese geese and they laid their first egg in the first summer! One egg, which they abandoned, but an older greylag took it on and Oliver, as we called him (now 2 years old) was the result. He was abandoned by all straight after hatching and ended up being cared for by my friend. He's more of a "House-goose" wandering in and out as he pleases.
Though noisy, he's as good as gold

[Brijjy]

My chinese are very friendly too, noisy but friendly. However they do go for my dads ankles when he comes to visit  They also shout at things that have been moved from their normal place. The Muscovies are very quiet, the females trill at each other and the boys sort of hiss.

[nettelein]

90% is an excellent rate! Thanks, that's real encouragement. Can't wait to get started. I was thinking of buying of ebay too, there's some good sellers on there, if you look up their websides. I mailed some of the sellers to ask whether I could order after end of listing, as I'm not quite ready yet. As the eggs are sold in 6's, I thought it might be a good idea to order 6 of two different sellers, though I'm not planning on breeding, anything can happen and 12 of the same hatch might not be wise. What do you reckon?

[Brijjy]

Give it a go. As long as you aren't spending silly money then it's worth a try. I was a bit dubious at first about buying eggs from ebay but so far I've only had good experiences. I always check their feedback and I always ask the seller about the general health of their stock. Of course people lie but overall they are honest. I also bought hatching eggs from the smallholders show at the Royal Welsh showground in may last year. Lets just say that what hatched out was not what it said on the box If you can find anyone near you that sells hatching eggs then that is probably your absolute best bet as you can see for yourself what their stock is like.

[nettelein]

I think there's never 100% assurance. I will give ebay a go and hope for the best. At their prices it's worth a try.

[Brijjy]

Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

[MAK]

Are you getting ducks again for eggs or for meat? Muscovey ducks lay well, are good mums and the meat is great. We let ours 2 mums sit on 15 but they gave up when 9 were hatched. I think we had 1:1 sex and ate the males at 3 kg - they grow much bigger. One duck breast does the 2 of us and their gizzards are great pan fried with salad and walnuts.

[nettelein]

Just for eggs. Though I love duck meat, I get far too attached to them and as my last lot, a long and happy duck life is awaiting them, even after they stop laying.

[princesspiggy]

amount of eggs depends on whether they are being collected or posted.
with our own eggs(chooks) or those collected by car - 80-90%
those by post, even top quality eggs - iv never managed more than 50% hatch rate.
then uv got to hope 50% are girls...