How to Hatch a Mallard Duck Egg

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Incubating a duck egg is a cool, hands-on way to hatch a cute baby Mallard duckling. Caring for the egg can seem a little complicated at first, but we'll be here to show you how simple it can be every step of the way!

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Setting Up the Incubator

PDF download Download Article
  1. Using an incubator will ensure the egg stays at the right temperature for hatching. You can get a small incubator for eggs with a fan at your local pet store or online. [1]
    • The incubator should also come with a wet bulb thermometer to allow you to monitor the relative humidity.
    • You can sometimes find used incubators online for a lower price. Make sure the incubator’s fan and temperature gauge works properly before you buy it used.
  2. Make sure the table is indoors and sturdy. Pick a spot by an inside wall that does not get any direct sunlight via a window, or heat from other sources like an oven. This will ensure the temperature and humidity of the incubator are undisturbed. [2]
    • Make sure the ventilation holes on the incubator are not covered or obstructed by anything around it.
    Advertisement
  3. Set the temperature to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit (37.5 degrees Celsius). Put the relative humidity to 84.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow the incubator to warm up one to two days before you put the egg in.
    • Make sure you set the ventilation in the incubator based on the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  4. A broody duck or chicken hen can be used as a live incubator if you have access to one. Place the egg under a broody duck or chicken hen and wait 27 to 29 days. Use a muscovy duck, as they are able to hatch 12-15 duck eggs at a time.
    • Put the nest box in a clean dry shelter. Provide feed and water for the broody duck while it incubates the egg.
    5. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Maintaining the Egg in the Incubator

PDF download Download Article
  1. This will ensure you get the best results. Check that the egg is not cracked or misshapen. If the egg is dirty, use room temperature water to carefully wash off the dirt on the egg.
    • If you find the egg, try to guess how long since it has been laid. If it is warm to the touch, it may have been laid within one to three days.
    • Make sure the egg is at room temperature before you put it in the incubator. An egg that has been kept in the fridge will need to be left out to warm up before it goes in the incubator.
  2. You may mark the top of the egg with an “x” and the bottom of the egg (the small end) with an “o.” This way, when you turn the egg, you can keep track of how often it is turned.
    • Close the doors of the incubator once the egg is inside. This will keep the humidity inside the incubator.
  3. It takes around 26 to 29 days total for Mallard duck eggs to hatch. From day 1 to day 25, the temperature in the incubator should be 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit (37.5 degrees Celsius). The relative humidity should be 86 degrees Fahrenheit (55%). [3]
    • On the first day of incubation, check the incubator regularly to ensure it is at the right temperature and humidity. The first few days are crucial for proper incubation.
  4. Turning the eggs is a key step in the incubation process. Use your hand to turn the egg so it is on a different side. Then, wait a few hours and turn the egg so it is on its other side. Do this three to seven times a day to keep the eggs at the right temperature. [4]
    • The more often you turn the egg, the better it will hatch. Get into the habit of turning it an odd number of times each day for the 25 days of incubation. You may write down the times you turn the egg in a log for reference.
    • Do not leave the eggs in the same position every night. Try to turn them during the night or right before you go to bed.
  5. Touch the top of the egg with a small bright flashlight. This is called "candling the egg." Use the flashlight to check if the egg is growing and progressing. It should not appear clear or cloudy when you touch the flashlight to the top of it. If this is the case, it may not be progressing well. Check the temperature and humidity in the incubator to ensure it is correct.
    • If the egg looks solid in the light, it is fertile and doing well.
    • You can candle the egg again at the end of week 3 of the incubation to make sure it is still growing properly.
  6. Put the egg in a hatching tray. Adjust the temperature of the incubator to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37.2 degrees Celsius). The humidity should be set to 88 degrees Fahrenheit (65%). Make sure the ventilation holes on the incubator are open to their maximum setting to allow the eggs to cool.
    • At day 26 and 27, increase the humidity to 93 degrees Fahrenheit (80%).
    • At day 28 and 29, lower the temperature so it is at 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36.1 degrees Celsius) and the humidity is at 90 degrees Fahrenheit (70%).
  7. You do not need to help the duckling emerge from the egg. Let the duckling hatch itself by breaking through the shell on its own. [5]
    • If the ducking makes a hole in the egg and cannot progress because it gets stuck, carefully help the duckling out with clean hands.
    8. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Caring for the Hatched Duckling

PDF download Download Article
  1. Put the hatched duckling in a box with high sides. Place a hot water bottle under a towel at one end. Keep the box in a shaded area indoors. Make sure the duckling is dry by wiping it gently with a clean towel. [6]
    • If the duckling appears to be very cold or shivering, you can snuggle the duckling close to you to keep it warm.
  2. Place a small amount of hard boiled egg or crushed dried mealworms in the lid of a jar. Give it to the duckling in the box. You should also give the duck a shallow dish of water filled with medium-sized pebbles. The pebbles will prevent the duckling from drowning in the water. [7]
    • Always offer the duckling fresh water with any food.
  3. Ducklings can be released after they are six weeks old and fully feathered. Pick a pond or lake that has other ducks in it. If possible, release the duckling in the original water source where you found it. [8]
    • Release the duckling early in the morning. Let the duckling make its own way into the water and into the company of other ducks in the area.
    4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Our mallard trio (2 males, 1 female) have nested by the small pond in our backyard. Every day they return and the female lays an additional egg, but isn't she supposed to stay on the nest to incubate?
    Amy Harrison
    Top Answerer
    Female ducks will not incubate their eggs until they have a clutch (normally 12 - 15 eggs). From the sounds of it, she might be already forming a clutch of eggs. She will visit every day to lay a single egg until she is happy with her collection of eggs.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 31
  • Question
    What is the lifespan of a mallard duck?
    Community Answer
    7 - 12 years in the wild, 15 - 20 in captivity.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 23
  • Question
    Does this method work for other kinds of ducks too?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but some species of ducks take a shorter or longer amount of time to hatch.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 14
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Things You’ll Need

      • An incubator
      • A flashlight
      • Water and feed for the duckling

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Take Care of Ducklings
      How to
      Identify a Male or Female Duck using Appearance and Behavior
      3 Ways to Tell If a Duckling Is Male or Female
      How to
      Train Pet Ducks
      How to
      Catch a Duck
      How To Keep Ducks Safe In Cold Weather
      How to
      Tell if Duck Eggs Are Dead or Alive
      What Does It Mean When a Duck Wags Their Tail?
      How to
      Breed Ducks
      How to
      Treat Botulism in a Duck
      How to
      Raise Call Ducks
      How to
      Feed Wild Baby Ducks
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about caring for birds, check out our in-depth interview with Roger J. Lederer, PhD .

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.metzerfarms.com/IncubatingAndHatching.cfm
      2. ↑ https://joybileefarm.com/hatching-duck-eggs/
      3. ↑ http://www.metzerfarms.com/IncubatingAndHatching.cfm
      4. ↑ http://www.metzerfarms.com/IncubatingAndHatching.cfm
      5. ↑ http://www.metzerfarms.com/IncubatingAndHatching.cfm
      6. ↑ https://poultrykeeper.com/duck-keeping/how-to-care-for-wild-baby-ducks/
      7. ↑ https://poultrykeeper.com/duck-keeping/how-to-care-for-wild-baby-ducks/
      8. ↑ https://poultrykeeper.com/duck-keeping/how-to-care-for-wild-baby-ducks/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To hatch a mallard duck egg, start by setting up an incubator on a flat surface away from direct sunlight and turning it on 1-2 days in advance. Then, place the small end of the egg in the incubator, and wait 26-29 days for it to hatch. Keep the temperature in the incubator at 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit and the relative humidity at 55 percent, and turn the egg over 3-7 times every day. On the 25th day, start lowering the temperature and humidity in preparation of the egg hatching. To learn how to care for a hatched mallard duckling, scroll down!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 265,459 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Connie Baskette

        Jun 17, 2016

        "I needed all of this information just in case the mother duck abandons the clutch of eggs that she is nesting in ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement