5 Best Duck Egg Incubators in 2023

A duck incubator is a great way to hatch a few duck eggs while staying in the comfort of your own home. But which incubator is the best? Read this article for tips on choosing the best duck incubator for your needs.

I’ve done all the research, testing and spent hours combing through duck farming, Facebook, and forum threads to find what I believe are the five best duck egg incubators on the market today.

This might seem like an easy task at first, but there are actually multiple factors to consider before making your decision.

If you’re passionate about raising and passionate about hatching ducklings, hope this guide helps you make the right decision.

Best Duck Egg Incubators

IN A HURRY? HERE’S OUR TOP PICKS…

Incubator
Best Value
Apdo Egg Incubator, 9-35 Eggs Fully Automatic Poultry Hatcher Machine, Led Candler Automatic Egg Turner Temperature Control, Chicken Incubators for Hatching Eggs, Chicken Quail Duck Goose Turkey
Editor’s Choice
Farm Innovators Egg Incubator with Automatic Egg Turning and Humidity Control and Egg Candler with Digital LCD Display for Improved Hatching, White
Popular
Brinsea Products Mini II Advance Automatic 7 Egg Incubator, One Size, Yellow& Black, USAB16C
Reliable
Manna Pro Harris Farms Nurture Right Egg Incubator for Hatching Chicks - Holds 22 Eggs - Automatic Egg Turner with Temperature and Humidity Control - 360 Degree View With Clear Window
Cheap
Magicfly Mini Egg Incubators for Hatching Eggs, with Automatic Egg Turning, 9-12 Eggs Hatching Incubator for Chickens, Ducks, Goose, Birds
Image
Apdo Egg Incubator, 9-35 Eggs Fully Automatic Poultry Hatcher Machine, Led Candler Automatic Egg Turner Temperature Control, Chicken Incubators for Hatching Eggs, Chicken Quail Duck Goose Turkey
Farm Innovators Egg Incubator with Automatic Egg Turning and Humidity Control and Egg Candler with Digital LCD Display for Improved Hatching, White
Brinsea Products Mini II Advance Automatic 7 Egg Incubator, One Size, Yellow& Black, USAB16C
Manna Pro Harris Farms Nurture Right Egg Incubator for Hatching Chicks - Holds 22 Eggs - Automatic Egg Turner with Temperature and Humidity Control - 360 Degree View With Clear Window
Magicfly Mini Egg Incubators for Hatching Eggs, with Automatic Egg Turning, 9-12 Eggs Hatching Incubator for Chickens, Ducks, Goose, Birds
Best For
Chicken, Quail, Duck ,Goose, Turkey
Chicken, Duck, Goose
Chicken, Duck, Quail, Pheasant
Chicken, Duck, Pheasant
Chicken, Duck, Owl, Dove, Quail, Parrot, Goose
Fully Automatic
Capacity (Egg)
9-35
41
7-12
12-18
9-12
Auto Egg Turner
Thermostat
Hygrometer
Candler
Retting
-
-
-
-
-
Best Value
Incubator
Apdo Egg Incubator, 9-35 Eggs Fully Automatic Poultry Hatcher Machine, Led Candler Automatic Egg Turner Temperature Control, Chicken Incubators for Hatching Eggs, Chicken Quail Duck Goose Turkey
Image
Apdo Egg Incubator, 9-35 Eggs Fully Automatic Poultry Hatcher Machine, Led Candler Automatic Egg Turner Temperature Control, Chicken Incubators for Hatching Eggs, Chicken Quail Duck Goose Turkey
Best For
Chicken, Quail, Duck ,Goose, Turkey
Fully Automatic
Capacity (Egg)
9-35
Auto Egg Turner
Thermostat
Hygrometer
Candler
Retting
-
Editor’s Choice
Incubator
Farm Innovators Egg Incubator with Automatic Egg Turning and Humidity Control and Egg Candler with Digital LCD Display for Improved Hatching, White
Image
Farm Innovators Egg Incubator with Automatic Egg Turning and Humidity Control and Egg Candler with Digital LCD Display for Improved Hatching, White
Best For
Chicken, Duck, Goose
Fully Automatic
Capacity (Egg)
41
Auto Egg Turner
Thermostat
Hygrometer
Candler
Retting
-
Popular
Incubator
Brinsea Products Mini II Advance Automatic 7 Egg Incubator, One Size, Yellow& Black, USAB16C
Image
Brinsea Products Mini II Advance Automatic 7 Egg Incubator, One Size, Yellow& Black, USAB16C
Best For
Chicken, Duck, Quail, Pheasant
Fully Automatic
Capacity (Egg)
7-12
Auto Egg Turner
Thermostat
Hygrometer
Candler
Retting
-
Reliable
Incubator
Manna Pro Harris Farms Nurture Right Egg Incubator for Hatching Chicks - Holds 22 Eggs - Automatic Egg Turner with Temperature and Humidity Control - 360 Degree View With Clear Window
Image
Manna Pro Harris Farms Nurture Right Egg Incubator for Hatching Chicks - Holds 22 Eggs - Automatic Egg Turner with Temperature and Humidity Control - 360 Degree View With Clear Window
Best For
Chicken, Duck, Pheasant
Fully Automatic
Capacity (Egg)
12-18
Auto Egg Turner
Thermostat
Hygrometer
Candler
Retting
-
Cheap
Incubator
Magicfly Mini Egg Incubators for Hatching Eggs, with Automatic Egg Turning, 9-12 Eggs Hatching Incubator for Chickens, Ducks, Goose, Birds
Image
Magicfly Mini Egg Incubators for Hatching Eggs, with Automatic Egg Turning, 9-12 Eggs Hatching Incubator for Chickens, Ducks, Goose, Birds
Best For
Chicken, Duck, Owl, Dove, Quail, Parrot, Goose
Fully Automatic
Capacity (Egg)
9-12
Auto Egg Turner
Thermostat
Hygrometer
Candler
Retting
-

Best Duck Egg Incubators

1. Apdo Automatic Egg Incubator – Best Overall

If you are looking for a convenient duck egg incubator for your money then Apdo Automatic Incubator can be a great choice. This is an all-in-one solution for your chicken, duck, and goose incubation.

Why I Love It:

  • It provides automatic temperature control for a consistent hatch rate (90% in my test).
  • It can hold 9 to 35 eggs at a time. But, if the eggs are big you can set 25-30 eggs at once.
  • I also love the auto rotator, which turns periodically to distribute heat evenly over each egg. So, You won’t have to worry about overheating or uneven hatching with Apdo’s machine!
  • The Apdo egg incubator is very easy to use. Setting the time and temperature to hatch the eggs is quite easy with the settings button of the incubator.
  • It adopts unique heat preservation technology, which uses an air conditioner and fan to exhaust the heat without removing the eggs.
  • It has a thermometer and a humidity control, which you can adjust according to your need.
  • Last but not least it also have an egg candler.

Drawbacks but not deal breakers:

  • It may feel and look cheaper.
  • Automatic egg turner some times fails to turn learger eggs.

Although there’s no guarantee any egg incubator will deliver what you want, we’ve found that Apdo Eggs Incubator is one of your best bets. This model is highly versatile: it can be used to hatch chicken eggs, quail eggs, duck eggs, and goose eggs.

Apdo Egg Incubator, 9-35 Eggs Fully Automatic Poultry Hatcher Machine, Led Candler Automatic Egg Turner Temperature Control, Chicken Incubators for Hatching Eggs, Chicken Quail Duck Goose Turkey
  • 【Fully Automatic Egg Turner Incubator】It can breeder a variety of eggs, 12...
  • 【Automatic Egg Turner】Advanced Tray system includes movable dividers to...
  • 【LED Egg Candler, Digital Temperature Control】Simply put the egg on the LED...
  • 【Humidity Channels, Humidity Regulation 】The Smart Airflow System maximizes...
  • 【100% Satisfaction Guarantee】Apdo egg incubator comes with a full 5-year...

2. Farm Innovators 4250 Digital Circulated Air Incubator – the runners up.

I am using this model for the last 3 years. this is another versatile machine that I also recommend as the best quail egg incubator.

Why I Love this:

  • Farm Innovators did a good job of incubating duck eggs.
  • It has a great heaching rate, in my expricene that is 90%-98%.
  • It have automatic egg turning, which allows you to turn the eggs manually or to shut off the automatic turning function.
  • It holds up to 24 eggs at once and comes with a digital thermostat for setting temperature , making it easy to set it up at precisely what you need.
  • These incubators all have secure lids, automatic humidity control system.
  • The Farm Innovators incubator is also the most versatile, because you can incubate chicken, ducks, geese, and quails.
  • The fan in this incubator circulates air around your entire egg, not just the top, which helps prevent egg damage and uneven incubation.
  • And the tray that holds the eggs is removable, which helps with emptying and cleaning.

Drawbacks but not deal breakers:

  • It doesn’t measure temp near eggs.
  • Don’t have impressed with the design quality.

For beginning duck egg farmers looking for a good quality incubator at a reasonable price, consider The Farm Innovators Model 4250 Digital Circulated Air Incubator with Automatic Egg Turner.

Another bonus of buying from Farm Innovators is that they have good customer service in case anything goes wrong with your incubator or you have any questions about using your new product.

Farm Innovators Egg Incubator with Automatic Egg Turning and Humidity Control and Egg Candler with Digital LCD Display for Improved Hatching, White
  • Incubator for eggs heats to factory pre-set of 100 degrees Fahrenheit within...
  • Automatic incubator features a digital display that shows temperature, humidity,...
  • Eliminates manual handling for up to 41 eggs and deep bottom tray to accommodate...
  • Large picture window provides 360 degrees unobstructed view inside the incubator...
  • Egg incubator and turner features easy-fill water channels and sturdy foam...

3. Brinsea Products Mini II – Most advanced

Another option is to get a Brinsea products mini II advance automatic 7 egg incubator. The Brinsea Mini II is a great product. It’s also the most expensive, but it’s packed with features and describes precisely everything it’s doing.

Why I Love this:

  • It’s easy to use, it looks good, and it’s reliable. This is the nicest, most well-built incubator we’ve tested.
  • This incubator has humidity sensors, automatic turning, and programmable settings.
  • I also like the stregthforword digital interface, and the automatic turning.
  • It is one of the most favorite incubator due to its visibility, silent incubation, and hatching success.
  • The Mini II Incubator is the next generation in incubator technology with features such as a countdown to hatch timer, automatic stop features.
  • The incubators come complete with a prep kit, a user manual, and a three-year limited warranty.

Drawbacks but not deal breakers:

  • Bit expencive but only hatchs 7 eggs at a time.

It does not matter if you are just into duck farming or want to breed other types of birds or animals. As long as it can help make sure that the eggs in question do not suffer from any mishaps, then you can be sure that it will work just fine!

Brinsea Products Mini II Advance Automatic 7 Egg Incubator, One Size, Yellow& Black, USAB16C
  • Excellent visibility
  • Fully digital menu driven controls
  • Programmable automatic egg turning
  • Count down to hatch day with auto stop
  • Robust hygienic ABS plastics construction for easy cleaning

4. Manna Pro Harris Farms Nurture Right Incubator – Best for Experts

Stopping the egg turner is important for successful hatching. Hatching too early can result in deformities, and hatching too late can result in cannibalism among your ducklings.

The Nurture Right incubator isn’t just an adorable duck egg incubator. It’s packed with features to help you hatch a healthy chick.

Why I Love this:

  • Hatching eggs withthis will helps your ducklings develop in a more natural environment, with automatic egg turning and up to 360° of air circulation.
  • The Nurture Right has automatic egg turning, an energy-efficient design, and a convenient egg turner that doesn’t operate when there’s no egg.
  • This incubator can hatch eggs with up to 12 to 18 eggs at a time.
  • It is easy to use,
  • It turns your eggs up to 3 days before they are due to hatch, and holds the chicks safely at the correct temperature until hatch day.

Drawbacks but not deal breakers:

  • Mainthang the humidity is challangeing, requires filling with water to maintain 50% humidity.

The Harris Farms Nurture Right incubator is a great alternative to the traditional incubator, suitable for the home or homestead. But not recommended for beginners.

5. Magicfly Digital Mini – Best Cheap Incubator

Magicfly Digital Mini Fully Automatic Egg Incubator is an amazing incubator for duck eggs. If you are a keeper of poultry such as chickens, ducks, quails, and other waterfowl.

The cheapest automatic egg incubators can turn shells into delicious, nutritious, healthy eggs at the perfect temperature.

A majority of consumers have told us that they want a fully automatic incubator, but only 28% of automatic incubators on the market are fully self-controlled, which means there is no way for the user to manually set the temperature of the incubator to the temperature needed for hatching.

Why I love it:

  • The Magicfly Digital Mini is a fully automatic egg incubator, meaning you can easily set the temperature according to your needs.
  • The incubator automatically turns the eggs, so you don’t need to manually turn the eggs.
  • The user-friendly digital display on top of the machine helps keep track of temperatures.
  • If you have your own backyard coop, one of Magicfly’s fully automatic egg incubators will come in handy to help ensure that your birds have successful hatchings every time.
  • With a shell made of durable healthy PP+ABS material, which will not easily fade or crack.
  • This is one of the best selling cheken egg incubator in the world.

Drawbacks but not deal breakers:

  • There is no insulation, sometime it causes temperature fluctuations (I observe 4-5 degrees). So you need to wrap it with towel.
  • There is no humidity ratings, so you must buy a hydrometer.
Magicfly Mini Egg Incubators for Hatching Eggs, with Automatic Egg Turning, 9-12 Eggs Hatching Incubator for Chickens, Ducks, Goose, Birds
  • Easy to Use: Magicfly egg incubator is easy to set up and use. Just press + or -...
  • Durable and Reliable: Made of durable healthy PP+ABS material, this simple and...
  • Automatic Egg Turning: The auto turner can save the time you need to spend...
  • Compact Desgin: Equipped with movable dividers, it fits 9-12 Eggs according to...
  • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: We provide detailed instruction manual, after-sales...

How to Choose The Best Incubator For Duck Eggs?

How to ChooseThe Best Incubator For Duck Eggs

A duck egg incubator is a special home for fertilized eggs. It can be tricky to find just what you’re looking for, so we compiled a list of top-selling and most popular incubators to help you get started.

As with most items, there are varying prices and qualities that should be taken into consideration. 

Still Air or Circulated Air

Some incubators use still air, where there is no airflow. However, with these models, you have to turn eggs manually in order to regulate heat and humidity.

With a circulated-air incubator (which often has an automated turning mechanism), you don’t have to worry about turning each egg separately as it rotates along with all of its cohorts. Of course, a circulated-air model will also cost more than one that relies on the still air.

Manual or Automatic Egg Incubator 

Just as with turned eggs, you also have a choice when it comes to turning your duck eggs automatically. Manual incubators will only turn eggs during certain intervals; when they don’t need to be turned, they rely on the still air.

Automatic egg incubators have sensors that detect and turn each egg individually based on its humidity and temperature. While an automatic egg incubator will likely cost more than a manual one, you won’t have to worry about manually turning or rotating each egg yourself.

Thermometer and Hygrometer

 While all egg incubators will come with a thermometer, some also include a hygrometer. You’ll want to ensure that your model has one so you can gauge both temperature and humidity levels while your eggs are incubating. The two components are quite important when it comes to successfully hatching duck eggs. 

Day-Lighting Systems (or Not)

Whether you choose a traditional style or an automatic egg incubator, there is another factor to consider: whether your model includes day-lighting systems. Some models do not have these systems in place; however, most that carry them claim they help hatch healthier ducklings than those that don’t have them.

Price 

As with most purchases, you generally get what you pay for when it comes to incubators. Many new duck-egg owners may only need a basic unit that includes essential features. However, if you plan on hatching many eggs or have plans to sell ducklings at a profit, you’ll likely want an incubator that has some more advanced features.

Capacity

 If you plan on hatching only a few eggs at a time, you likely don’t need to spend much to get an incubator. However, if you hope to hatch a large number of ducklings at once, it’s best to look for one that can hold a lot of eggs at once—ideally 12 or more.

Durability and Reliability 

If you’re unsure what kind of incubator you need, start small with a basic model and see how your first few batches of duck eggs turn out. After that, evaluate which features or options are important to you and look for one that has them.

If possible, try to buy from a reputable retailer with good customer service so you can receive support if something goes wrong with your unit.

Suitable for Beginners 

In general, duck egg incubators are among some of the easiest models to use. They usually require little-to-no maintenance and need only be sanitized from time to time. However, it’s still important to consider whether a particular model is suitable for beginners.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long to keep duck eggs in an incubator?

How long you keep your eggs in an incubator depends on a number of factors, but you’ll know they’re ready to hatch after 21 days. If you start with fertilized eggs and watch them carefully, you may be able to tell if any will hatch before then. However, do not attempt to hatch any eggs that are still developing—they need 21 days in an incubator to give them a fair chance at growing into healthy ducklings.

Should you use an automatic egg turner for duck eggs?

Automatic egg turners have been in use for chicken eggs for years, and they offer several advantages. Since ducks are bigger than chickens, you may want to consider buying an automatic egg turner for duck eggs.

What happens if you don’t turn duck eggs?

The first thing to know is that duck eggs will not hatch without a male and female present. If only females are present, it’s likely that you’ll end up with ducklings and goose eggs. Goose eggs will always produce goslings. There are no guaranteed methods for incubating goose eggs–many people have tried to incubate them in an effort to get their pet geese to lay more than one egg at a time, but no success has ever been reported.

What does a Duck incubator cost?

A chicken egg incubator is a bit different than its duck egg counterpart. It’s usually large enough to handle multiple eggs, but they don’t take up nearly as much space as a standard chicken-egg incubator. The average cost of a duck egg incubator is $70 – $200. However, the commercial model normally costs around $1000.

Can you use a chicken incubator for duck eggs?

This isn’t as strange a question as you might think. While there is a slight difference in size, chicken incubators can be used for duck eggs—and some duck egg farmers do use them! The biggest advantage of using a chicken incubator for duck eggs is that they are cheaper than their duck-specific counterparts. This means that if you’re just starting out, or are only planning to hatch a few ducks’ eggs, you can try it out without too much cost.

Final Words

If you’re trying to incubate duck eggs, either in your backyard or an egg-incubator farm, you have a lot of options. Some of these options are simple DIY setups that use items you already have around your house. Others are more advanced and require additional care.

Before choosing one particular method, consider what you want to accomplish with your duck-egg incubation project—and how much work you want to put into it! If you’d like to keep costs down while still producing healthy chicks, using a cheap container may be ideal for you.

Or if you want to take great pride in your incubated eggs and produce top-quality birds every time, then perhaps some of our high-end products would suit your needs better.

No matter which route you choose, we hope it leads to success—and adorable little baby ducks running about as soon as they hatch! With summer just around the corner, we can almost smell those cute ducklings now…

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