hatching duck eggs help...

OK, I have 8 in the bator. 2 are peeping and pipping right now. The other 6 ... nothin'. I couldn't resist and I candled. (no lectures please.) What I found when looking REALLY closely is the other 6 are not quite full to the air cell. There is a slight sliver of space on one side and what looks like maybe a little blood line forming. I'm trying to be descriptive here because I'm not sure it will come through in a pic. I will try though. Any thoughts at all and what I'm seeing? This is me right now...

It really looks like maybe they stopped growing 4 days ago. But why 6 eggs? And they're all right next to each other.. This is weird. I'm going to try to get a pic for you all.

Thanks in advance for all comments.

(temp 99.5, humidity 55% the whole time)

I can kind of picture what you are describing. I see that in the eggs when they are about at that stage too. Some just a little further along than others. Can you see any movement in the base of any of the aircells? This is where the spine is along the shell and seeing that means they are moving up into position to hatch. The vein you can see means that the duckling inside the egg is still alive.

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Ok, well you just made me feel a little better. I've been looking for movement in the air sac and I don't see any. I'm going to TRY to get a decent pic. And I'll post. I'm so stupid for getting so attached to an egg! But then that one little guy starting peeping at me and my heart melted! I don't want to lose the other 6 at this stage.

Ok. I just candled.. and I REALLY paid attention to what I was seeing. I am seeing tiny movement in the other 5. I'm pretty sure one is gone. So I've concluded that perhaps they have moved and it looks weird and different. And I wasn't expecting that. Then I got all stupid and irrational and thought they were goners.

You made me stop and think. So thanks for bringing me back to reality.

I get attached to my eggs too- they are all special.
Since I have eggs in the bator hatching as well- I have taken a photo of one of the eggs that I have, Below is the original- then the second copy has the explanation of what the coloured bits are. Some are easy to pick out- but just for anyone that hasnt seen an egg hatching before I will label the bits I have marked. Hope some of this makes sense to you .





Kind of made it look like a weird face

The red line is where I think you are saying you can see a clear space. Thats where I can still see some room in the egg just before they break through the inner membrane.

The lilac oval is where you can see movement at the base of the aircell. This is where the ducklings spine is, and when it moves and wriggles you can often see fluttering in this area. if you dont- it could just mean that the duckling is not in position yet- or in the wrong position and it will pip at the other end of the egg.

The yellow circle is indicating where I can see the shadow of the ducklings beak inside the egg.

The green circle is where the duckling has broken through the shell.

This egg still has at least 24 hours to go before it is hatched. I love hearing them peep too- and often sit in front of the incubator talking to the eggs while they are hatching.

Oh my gosh that was an amazing description. Thanks so much and yes hit the nail on the head. Now I want to candle for beaks, but I will resist!

Is there any way you can save one if it pips on the wrong end?

And BTW: I have been talking to the little peeper. I have this batch sold, but I may have to hang on to this one that talks to me..
I think he's saying, "Keep me, I want to live with you."

I'm sure that duckyfromoz will reply (and she has years of experience) but if one pips at the wrong end and is strong it has a very good chance. Right now I have two strapping 3.5 week old Swedish ducklings that both hatched at the wrong end with no help at all.

Really just wanted to let you know that I've got my fingers crossed for you!! As a newby to hatching I know how nerve-wracking it is!! Hang in there!!!

One of mine is upside down this time- so I have turned the egg up the other way- it is breathing fine now it has broken through the shell- and it will eventually move to take up some of the space in the aircell. But when they are turned and pip in the wrong END of the egg there is no space for them to move into. They can still hatch and most of mine like that do hatch on their own. I do help when needed- but usually I give them at least an extra day after everyone has hatched before I would do anything as they do take longer to hatch. When the duckling moves and turns in the egg to unzip the shell- the yolk from the egg and the blood in the veins is absorbed. Without being able to move- the process still happens- but it is alot slower, so helping one that has pipped the wrong end of the egg too soon can end badly if you are not careful.

Its just a matter of removing a little shell and waiting for the membrane to dry so little by little it can be removed without fear of tearing a vein open, but dont worry too much about that now- it may not be necessarily at all.


Fingers are crossed for you that in a day or so you have all your babies out of those egg and either in the brooder or getting lots of cuddles.

Thanks for everything!