I replied to your private message. Check your Inbox.
Try candling through the air cell. Shine the light into the fat end. That direction gives a much better view of what is going on.
Ya know, I was thinking the same thing about the shorter necks being more of a problem than the short bills! I just never said it because I thought maybe I was wrong. :hide
Check the air cells on day 23, if they look good and you see some drawdown starting and/or the egg looks full all the way up to the air cell, you can do it any time. Or you can wait for an internal pip (usually day 24-25). Depends on how often you check them. Once they internally pip though...
My ducks lay year round, snow, rain, hot weather.... doesn't matter to them.
Also yes, mallard-derived ducks take 28 days, Muscovy can take up to 35-37 days,
My duck hatched a brood in June last year, the young females started laying in February this year. In the snow. lol
They...
Humidity is not an exact science and depends greatly on your local humidity, shell condition, etc. But usually 25-35% for the first 25 days, then 60-70% for the final 3 days works for most folks.
I'll throw my 2cents in too. Maybe check out black east indies. But I'm not so sure I'd get ducks...
I thought you posted that you had them ready, but I didn't see that you actually set them. I may have missed it. I'm anxious for you to hatch these, it will be fun!
And I don't have either of those breeds, so I don't visit there much... but I do love everything ducky!
Congrats!!
Yours are about the same ages as my girls!! And my older one also has taken a break from laying. She molted some, but not really hard. I hope they all start up soon too!
Just a thought, if you could possibly bring him in also, crated next to her, but unable to touch her, maybe they could reunite more easily?
How old are they? Do they mate? Maybe he just missed her, but she isn't in "the mood" :D
For anyone who doesn't normally see the Member Interviews.... @Ren2014 is super!!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1140218/byc-member-interview-ren2014#post_17709999