Hatching Shipped Duck Eggs & Turning Questions

[sarahgray18]

Hello, I have found multiple threads regarding hatching shipped eggs for chickens, but not as many for ducks, and I just had a few questions. It would be greatly appreciated if anyone could provide guidance or share their experience!

I received my shipped Indian Runner hatching eggs in the mail today. I have them sitting pointy side down in an egg carton at room temperature for 24 hours (so they would go in the incubator sometime tomorrow).

There are 20 eggs, none of which came cracked or broken. I'm pretty sure 18/20 have a loose air cell ("jiggles" at the fat end of the egg but doesn't move around the whole egg), with a few that seem slightly saddle-shaped. I hope this makes sense, I'm still learning about hatching eggs and incubating.

I have a Nurture Right 360, which lays the eggs on their sides and turns them every hour. My questions are:

• Should I remove the auto turner and place the eggs in a carton, pointy side down, when they go into the incubator? If yes, how many days should I keep them like this? Should I be tilting them an odd number per day if I keep them upright in the carton?
• I have read conflicting things about turning shipped eggs, especially since my incubator turns them on their sides. Should they not be turned for a bit (if yes, how many days)?

I have successfully hatched my ducks' eggs and locally bought duck eggs before, but this is my first experience with shipped eggs. I know shipped eggs are a gamble, but I want to give them the best chance possible.

 

[deer trail duck farms]

nope put them in your incubator with the turner and let it do its thing. i always wait the 24 hours so the temp regulates. then just put them in never have i ever had issues. if you put a carton in the incubator how do you plan on rotating them

 

[sarahgray18]

nope put them in your incubator with the turner and let it do its thing. i always wait the 24 hours so the temp regulates. then just put them in never have i ever had issues. if you put a carton in the incubator how do you plan on rotating them

Ok, thank you! I will put them in the incubator tonight on their sides with the egg turner.

I thought they could be upright in a carton, and I would tilt them like the incubators that hold the eggs upright do. However, after thinking about it more, I don't think I would actually be able to fit all 20 upright in my incubator and tilt them.