[inchhighfly]

I have hatched many a chick in my incubator but never a duckling.........my son would love to try and hatch some call ducks but looking around google etc it seems that this can be difficult to do. I can't find out really why they are difficult though - other than the need for high humidity and that doesn't seem to be too tricky. Can anyone help..........

[Chookiechook]

Nothing at all.... but have a couple in my  incubator waiting to see if they hatch ok.... they are developing well so will watch this thread with interest

[Casey76]

I haven't any personal experience, but apparantly they can be difficult to hatch becasue of their short bill.  As in the ducklings have problems pipping, even if they are perfectly healthy.

There is a movement amongst breeders to stop helping the hatching process as any duckling should be able to hatch itself, else the short bill problem will keep getting worse (similar to Persian cats and their breathing/eye problems).

Good luck though... I'm thinking about getting some runner duck eggs to hatch   I've never done ducks before!

[Pinti]

We have hatched Silver Appleyards and it was a lot more fraught than hatching chickens.

All of the ducklings struggled to break through the shell, they would pip but not progress. Against standard advice we helped them out by breaking a little bit of shell off and then leaving until the duckling was able to emerge.

3 out of the 4 fertilised eggs hatched this way and are now healthy egg layers.