Egg incubators › Duck & goose egg incubators
Duck & Goose Egg Incubators
Ducks and geese need more humidity and a few more days than chickens. Here’s how to hatch them and which incubator to use.
Duck and goose eggs at a glance
| Bird | Days to hatch | Stop turning | Humidity: setting / last 3 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duck (Pekin, Runner, Khaki Campbell) | 28 | Day 25 | 55–60% / 70–75% |
| Muscovy duck | 35 | Day 32 | 55–60% / 70–75% |
| Goose | 28–32 | 3 days before hatch | 55–60% / 70–75% |
Temperature: 37.5–37.8°C for ducks, slightly lower (37.3–37.5°C) for geese, in a fan-assisted incubator.
Which incubator for duck and goose eggs?
- Duck eggs are bigger than chicken eggs, and goose eggs much bigger, so fewer fit. Plan on roughly two-thirds of the chicken-egg capacity for duck eggs, and far fewer for geese.
- All our industrial incubators can be set up for duck and goose eggs. We stock duck/geese egg trays.
- Ducks and geese take a week longer than chickens, so a machine that holds heat well through load-shedding matters more. The 180 egg industrial incubator keeps heat for about 4–6 hours.
Tips for waterfowl eggs
- Waterfowl eggs need more humidity than chicken eggs. Keep the water tray full and check humidity daily.
- From about the second week, many breeders lightly mist duck and goose eggs with lukewarm water once a day when the lid is opened for checks.
- Duck eggs are often dirty from the nest. Collect them often and set only clean eggs; dirty eggs can go bad and burst in the incubator.
- Ducklings can take a long time between pipping and hatching. Be patient and keep the lid closed.
Full steps are in our hatching guide.
Questions
How long do duck eggs take to hatch?
Most duck breeds hatch in about 28 days. Muscovy ducks take about 35 days.
Can I hatch duck eggs in a chicken incubator?
Yes. Use trays that fit the bigger eggs, run higher humidity, and stop turning 3 days before hatch day.
How long do goose eggs take to hatch?
About 28 to 32 days, depending on the breed.
Need an incubator or advice?
We keep hobby and industrial incubators, spares, egg testers and brooders in stock in Midrand. Call, WhatsApp or send an enquiry, and we’ll help you pick the right size.