Whats going on?! Ducks hatching early....AGAIN!

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Alicia G

Alicia G

Songster
9 Years
Sep 29, 2010
690
4
121
Nova Scotia
This is my second batch of duck eggs this year,both batches of eggs came from the same lady (rouen X and call ducks), and the first batch hatched at day 23. Now my second batch, from the same lady, from the same birds, are hatching again on day 23! And the craziest thing is the ducklings from the first hatch are all doing great! What in the world is going on with this boogers?!
Has anyone else had this happen?
 
Quote:
Probably because your temps are higher than they should be. Mine always hatch a few days early. I had some that weren't supposed to hatch til Monday but they all came yesterday and today...healthy as can be. Last month I had 2 batches hatch early. But I know it's because my temps are high.
 
Quote:
Is the incubator forced-air or still-air? What kind of thermometer, and how many thermometers are you using? And where in the incubator are you measuring the temperature? You should have the thermometer at egg level, but NOT touching the eggs.
 
Its also very possible that the eggs were exposed to very warm ambient temperatures, in the 90 to 100 degree range, at some point after lay, during collection, and during shipping. This can start development of the embryos, and they can tolerate to some extent "stopping and starting" with temperature fluctuations. With the recent heatwaves across the US, its very possible they started to develop as they spent a couple of hot days in transit in planes and on trucks (assuming they were shipped to you).
 
I bet it is your thermometer reading high. Look the thermometer and see what the expectable variation is. It should be printed on it or in the manual. Many have a 2-5% allowance. That can mean when you read 100 that it is either 2-5 degrees above or below. So next time set your machine .5 to 1 degree lower and see if the timing is right. I know my thermometer is reading 2 degrees to high, so I wrote it onto it to remember to adjust for it. Having twice an early outcome really indicates that your machine is running to warm.
 
You know, if the ducklings are hatching perfectly healthy without bloody navels, Denninmi's suggestion about the eggs beginning development before you actually set them in your incubator is very likely.
thumbsup.gif
 
I had picked them up from the breeder, and she collects her eggs daily. These were collected the day I got them, and they stayed in my cool basement for 5 days. I have two thermometers is the bator, one is a simple plastic one that you buy for like a dollar, but the other is a thermometer/hydrometer in one, which was suggested by a friend who also uses the same one. Both thermometers are reading the same, at between 98-100. Its a forced air bator I think, it has a fan in the top of it. Its a small hovabator BTW. Im not worried, but Im just so curious on why this is happening. I also hatched out some serama with the same bator and they hatched out at around 19-21 days.
 

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