How big are call duck eggs?

[Valeriemichelle]

I made an incubator and I was wondering how big call duck eggs are.

Are they bigger or smaller then large chicken eggs you would buy from the grocery store?
I was going to try and estimate how many i can fit with the chicken eggs.

 

[miniwhipkey]

They are way smaller than chicken eggs. And are very hard to hatch.

 

[miniwhipkey]

They have to be hatch at different temps and humidity than chickens. Also, you need a way to lay them on their side. It might not be possible to hatch at the same time as chicken eggs.

 

[Scott]

Quote:
It really depends... like chicken eggs there is a considerable range of size. Eggs from show quality call ducks are about the size of a bantam chicken egg. Eggs from pet quality calls are larger, though still smaller than a store bought chicken egg.

 

[Sweetfolly]

Quote:
That's not entirely true.

I always incubate my duck and chicken eggs together at 35-45% humidity, 99.6 degrees, with no problems. The air cells on all the eggs are perfect all the way through. In fact, I just had some duck and chicken eggs in the hatcher together too, and I kept the humidity at around 70% and the temperature at 98 degrees - every egg that went into the hatcher hatched and produced a beautiful, healthy chick or duckling!

Call ducks are hard to successfully incubate/hatch artificially though. You might want to try an easier-to-hatch breed to start out.

 

[miniwhipkey]

Annarie,

That is good to know. I was told different. I am glad it works for you.

Thank you for the info

 

[BeccaOH]

Quote:
It really depends... like chicken eggs there is a considerable range of size. Eggs from show quality eggs are about the size of a bantam chicken egg. Eggs from pet quality calls are larger, though still smaller than a store bought chicken egg.

I agree with Scott on size. Some that I get are comparable to a medium chicken egg while others are closer to bantam (like Mille Fleur d'Uccle) size.

I have not really had a hard time with incubating them, and I had been told before getting calls that they would be tough. I have them in a waterfowl only HovaBator with geese and standard duck eggs. I keep the humidity at around 40-50. Temp is right at 100 on my reader. I spritz with water once a day and turn 2-3 times.

My chicken hen took a clutch of 4 eggs. She hatched out 3. The fourth developed fully but seemed to suffocate in the membrane.