2/5 ducklings so far!! First time hatcher

[Jelibaen]

Hi guys! I'm a first time duck hatcher - I have 6 adult ducks already. And of course. I've got the newbie anxieties.

Five eggs in the incubator - Hatch Day was supposed to be today, but I had two babies hatch yesterday. Started pipping Thursday night; first hatched yesterday morning, second yesterday evening. Both are doing great!
The thing is, I haven't seen any movement or pipping from the other three eggs. I dont know if they're just sleeping or if I'm not watching close enough or if I'm just worrying far too much.

I'm preparing now to move the two ducklings to the brooder. Is it normal to have them hatch so far apart if these other three are still viable? They're a barnyard mix so I dont even know what I have. Everyone was filling the egg and viable on lockdown day.

Temo has been at 38C the whole time. I dont have a hygrometer with this incubator but there is condensation on the walls.

TLDR: very worried first timer concerned about length of time between hatches

Thanks in advance!!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

What kind of incubator are you using? Did you keep an alternate calibrated thermometer in the incubator in addition to the thermometer that's built into the incubator? What breed of ducks and what day in incubation is this?

 

[Jelibaen]

What kind of incubator are you using? Did you keep an alternate calibrated thermometer in the incubator in addition to the thermometer that's built into the incubator? What breed of ducks and what day in incubation is this?

I signed up for a duck hatching program so all of the supplies and eggs were provided. Its called an HHD 12 egg incubator.
No, I didn't - I had no idea I was supposed to!
No idea what breeds, they just told me barnyard mix. Today is Day 28.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

The incubator could have warm spots which would cause some early hatchers. The opposite could also be true with cool spots. If I were you, I'd candle the remaining eggs and check for an internal pip.

 

[Jelibaen]

The incubator could have warm spots which would cause some early hatchers. The opposite could also be true with cool spots. If I were you, I'd candle the remaining eggs and check for an internal pip.

Will I cause shrink wrapping if they havent externally pipped yet?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I signed up for a duck hatching program so all of the supplies and eggs were provided. Its called an HHD 12 egg incubator.
No, I didn't - I had no idea I was supposed to!
No idea what breeds, they just told me barnyard mix. Today is Day 28.

That sounds like a lot of fun! Never heard of it though.

 

[WonkierZulu]

"Eggs from common ducks like Pekins require 28 days to hatch. Eggs from Muscovy ducks hatch in about 35 days after setting." Cornell.edu

 

[HeatherKellyB]

If you've got condensation on the walls of the incubator, I can't imagine you have to worry about shrink wrapping. Don't leave the lid off. Just open it just enough to reach in for the egg and close it back while you candle. If the walls are clear plastic, you may be able to candle without even opening the lid. This is what I do. Darken the room and use a high power flashlight to candle by shining the light through the wall. I have to move my light around to find the perfect spot to get a glimpse

 

[HeatherKellyB]

You don't want to turn the egg over or anything like that. Try to keep the egg in its same position to keep the duckling from becoming disoriented

 

[DatCampG]

Awww-precious little baby duck!
I want to hatch ducks one day.