Incubating Duck Eggs Part 1: How 22 Eggs Took Over Our Household

I didn’t expect incubating duck eggs to completely take over our household, but here we are. Our mornings now start with checking temperatures and humidity levels, my girls ask for duck updates before breakfast, and every egg has a name. And somehow I’ve become the kind of person who gets excited about seeing tiny veins through a flashlight.

Honestly, I’m not sure who’s more invested at this point, me or the kids.

What started as a fun summer project has quickly become one of the most exciting things we’ve done together as a family. Between candling eggs, counting down the days, and debating whether Quacklemore or James Pond is the superior duck name, we’ve all been completely hooked.

Before we get into our experience incubating duck eggs, hi! I’m Jessica, a maternity, birth, and family photographer based in Beaumont, Alberta serving Edmonton and the surrounding communities. I’m a mama to two girls, a lover of meaningful family memories, and someone who will apparently turn anything into a family adventure if given the opportunity.

Today I’m sharing the beginning of our duck egg journey and all the excitement, surprises, and questionable duck names that have come along with it. Whether you’re here for the ducks or looking for an Edmonton photographer who captures real, heartfelt family moments, I’m so glad you’re here. I’d love to connect and help tell your family’s story, too!

The Timing Felt Almost Too Perfect

A week before our duck eggs arrived, a wild mama duck and her babies started visiting our property. Every morning we’d peek out the window hoping to spot them again. The girls were completely fascinated, and honestly, so was I.

The funny thing is that we already knew we had duck eggs arriving soon. So every time we saw that little duck family waddling around, my husband and I would just look at each other and laugh.

It felt like the universe was being incredibly obvious. By the time our eggs finally arrived from Morning Meadows Homestead, it already felt like ducks had somehow become the theme of our summer.

Waiting for ducklings may be a little different than waiting for a baby, but the anticipation feels surprisingly familiar. Read more about building your birth team.

Surprising the Girls With 22 Duck Eggs

When the eggs arrived, I spent some time learning about the incubator setup. I quickly realized that incubating duck eggs isn’t as simple as putting them in a machine and hoping for the best. The temperature needed to stay around 100 degrees, the humidity between 60 and 75 percent, and I needed to candle the eggs daily to monitor their development.

As someone who has managed to keep two children alive but occasionally forgets to water a houseplant, this felt like a lot of responsibility.

Once everything was set up, I waited for the girls to get home from school. The moment they saw the incubator full of eggs, they completely lost it. The questions started immediately.

“When will they hatch?”

“Can we keep them all?”

“Can they sleep in my room?”

My “responsible parent” answer to that last one was no. But I also know myself well enough to admit that if a duckling ends up tucked into a blanket someday, nobody should be surprised.

Why I Wanted to Try Incubating Duck Eggs

Part of the reason this adventure appealed to me is because it brought back memories of my own childhood. When I was young, my mom brought home chicks, and I was completely fascinated by them. Decades later, it’s still one of my favourite memories.

Last year, we raised butterflies together, and watching that transformation sparked so much wonder for my girls. This year, I wanted to create something equally memorable, which is how we landed on incubating duck eggs. I wanted to create an experience that felt exciting, educational, and just a little bit magical.

Mission accomplished!

And if I’m being completely honest, I may be enjoying this even more than the kids. I’m secretly obsessed with watching videos of little duck feet pitter pattering across the floor, so there’s a good chance I’ve been looking forward to hatch day just as much as they have!

Watching my girls experience this has been a reminder that childhood moves fast. If you’re looking for an Edmonton photographer, you might enjoy this post. Read the blog here.

I Didn’t Expect to Become Emotionally Attached

Somewhere between day one and day five, curiosity turned into a full blown obsession. Every evening after the girls went to bed, I’d find myself hovering over the incubator on the kitchen counter, using the built in candling light to check on the eggs one by one. Candling quickly became my favourite part of incubating duck eggs.

For anyone unfamiliar, candling is when you shine a bright light through the shell to see what’s happening inside. Out of our original 22 eggs, I initially found 11 with visible veins and heartbeats. A few days later, that number grew to 15.

I felt ridiculously proud, as though I personally deserved credit for tiny duck embryos doing what tiny duck embryos naturally do.

When I caught myself checking on them for the tenth time that day, I thought, “Hold on… why does this feel a little like being pregnant again?” All the anticipation and tiny heartbeats, but thankfully none of the nausea, midnight cravings, or labour. 

Apparently I’m Keeping Medical Records for Duck Embryos Now

At some point, simply looking at the eggs wasn’t enough. I needed data. Every egg received a number, and I started keeping notes on veins, heartbeats, movement, and any signs of development.

I realize this sounds slightly unhinged, but when you’re incubating duck eggs, every little change feels important. Before long, I was completely invested in each egg’s progress.

Watching these ducklings grow has me thinking about pregnancy all over again. Read why I love at home maternity photos. Read the blog here.

The Naming Process Got Slightly Out of Control

Naturally, the next step was naming every egg because apparently that’s what happens when you give two little girls 22 potential ducklings.

I named James Pond, Quacklemore, Tater Tot, and Crouton. My husband chose Peking Duck and Charles Barkley. My youngest contributed Bubbles, Viper, and Turd. Yes, Turd. My oldest chose Barthalemu, and egg #11 became Eleven because we’re huge Stranger Things fans.

Lately, I’ve become attached to egg #17, William. He’s the most active so far, and every time I candle him, he seems to be putting on a show.

These days, nobody refers to the eggs by number. We’re not checking on egg #6, we’re checking on Quacklemore. Somehow, giving them names has made this whole adventure feel a lot more real.

What’s Next for Our Duck Egg Adventure?

At the time I’m writing this, we’re still very early in the process. After day eight, I’ll be removing the eggs that don’t show signs of development. As curious as I am to see what’s happening inside, I’m also a little nervous about it.

For now, we’re continuing our daily checks, monitoring temperature and humidity levels, and cheering on our tiny future ducklings. The girls ask for updates constantly, and I catch myself peeking into the incubator far more often than necessary.

If all goes well, Part 2 will include an update on how many eggs are still developing and whether Quacklemore, Charles Barkley, Eleven, and my current favorite, William, are still thriving.

While our latest adventure is happening around an incubator in the kitchen, some memories are best captured outdoors. I’ve shared 10 of my favourite photo locations here. Read the blog here.

So… Apparently We’re Duck People Now

There’s something special about having everyone excited about the same thing. Every morning starts with updates. Every evening ends with checking on our future ducklings. And somehow, in the middle of ordinary days, this little project has given us something to look forward to together.

Every day there’s something new to learn and whether we end up with one duckling or fifteen, I already know this is becoming one of those childhood memories we’ll talk about for years.

The older I get, the more I realize that kids rarely remember the big expensive things. They remember the unexpected adventures. The family projects. The moments that felt a little magical. Right now, our little bit of magic looks like 22 eggs sitting in an incubator on our counter.

I’ll be back soon with Part 2 and hopefully some exciting updates on Quacklemore, Eleven, Charles Barkley, and yes… even Turd.

And if you’re here because you love documenting the little seasons of family life as much as I do, I’d love to connect. Whether through stories, photographs, or shared adventures, these are the moments worth holding onto. You can learn more about me or come say hi on Instagram too!

xo

Jessica