? about hatching ducklings & humidity levels affecting hatch

[19hhbelgian]

Ok, I have been desperately trying to hatch out my silkie ducklings, and with only 1 running around, I just don't know what to do anymore. Here's what I do:

Spritz daily with a mister
Temp = 99.5
Humidity = 55
"lockdown" humidity = 65

I've opened several of the quitters, and it's always the same. The egg has a lot of liquid in it, the duckling will be fully formed, and the yolk has not been used up at all. I was told by someone else that they think the pip triggers the absorption of the yolk, so if that's correct, then I understand why the yolk is always fully in tact. Other than that, I don't understand what's wrong. Should I not mist the eggs? Is there always so much watery liquid inside an egg, or am I drowning my babies

 

[CityChicker]

First things first, it does sound like your humidity is too high. I say that based on what you are describing, not your numbers. Numbers and percentages are only a guideline and you have to find what works for you and your area (and incubator). If you have excess fluid in the egg like that, your humidity is too high. These are eggs that have gone full term, but failed to pip? Have you checked your thermometer/hygrometer? What you are describing sounds like a problem with both temperature and humidity. What are you hatching in?

 

[bigdawg]

i hatched mine at 60 to 65 percent humidty all the way through. 99.5 temp. did just fine. i sprayed them with water the last two weeks. it does sound like your humidity was higher than it was reading

 

[19hhbelgian]

I'm using a king suro 20. It's a fully automatic incubator, and I have checked the accurateness of the temp & humidity gauges on the incubator. I have successfully hatched many chicks in the same incubator, I'm just having trouble with my ducks. I know silkies are normally a little trickier than normal, but I would have expected better than 1 duckling out of all these eggs!

Thanks for the advise!! I appreciate everybody's input

 

[Sweetfolly]

I "dry incubated" my latest batch of duck eggs. I used my Brinsea Octagon 20 Eco, and didn't add any water to the 'bator at all until lockdown. During days 1 through 25, the humidity was at 30%. At lockdown, I added water to the 'bator and upped the humidity to 68%. It worked like a charm, and the ducklings looked great when they hatched - not too "sticky", and there wasn't any gooey "gunk" left in the egg, but not too dry - the shell membranes were nice and pliable.

I did this as an experiment after reading this note in the book Keeping Ducks and Geese by Chris and Mike Ashton: "Note that waterfowl eggs do not need more water than chicken eggs; generally they need less. Correct water loss is crucial to successful hatching."

From the 4 eggs I used, I have 3 ducklings happily running around in the brooder, and I have one slow-poke that just pipped three hours ago, and will probably hatch out sometime overnight.

 

[19hhbelgian]

AWWW!! Your babies are so cute! What breed are they?

I was afraid to "dry incubate" my duck eggs, and have turned the humidity down on the incubator, to 45. I have had the most success dry incubating my chicken eggs, so I think I will try it with my duck eggs and do what you stated above. I think I'm making this harder than it has to be...

 

[CityChicker]

That quote from the Ashtons really surprises me. That is not in keeping at all with their other writing. I have that book too packed up in our office (we are painting). I will have to dig it out tomorrow and find what you are talking about, Annarie. That is interesting.

I do have their book, The Domestic Duck, on my night stand (yes, I'm that big a duck nerd, LOL) and it quotes humidity ranges similar to what we typically see quoted here. They also talk a lot about early to mid season eggs not needing added humidity, BUT (and this is a BIG but), the relative humidity numbers they quote are still very high. In order for me to get those numbers, I would have to run my incubators FULL of water. Obviously, the UK is wet. LOL

Anyway, they recommend running the incubator at 55% humidity and say that if the average relative humidity in the room is 65%, water will have to be added to the incubator (they mention still-air machines repeatedly, something not commonly used in the states at all). For the early season eggs, they say you if the relative humidity is 60%-65%, you should be able to maintain 38%-45% humidity inside the machine without adding water. They also go on to mention that you will have to add water for some breeds if the humidity drops below 50%.

Anyway, these numbers are FAR higher than what is typically used for chicken eggs (at least in the US). They are pretty much in line with the numbers that Holderread's and others in the states quote as for what to shoot for in the incubator. I am not sure that it matters for the OP because it is apparent that the humidity might be too high in her case, but hopefully this is helpful nonetheless.