Advice please - runner duck eggs pipping on day 19

[ejctm]

Hi folks,

Can anyone advise me?

I bought Indian runner duck eggs off a breeder on ebay and they arrived on 2nd June by post. Put them straight under my broody hen and she has been sitting on them since. I make today as day 19 and 2 eggs appear to have pipped. They should take 28 days to hatch.

I am worried as this is very early. Is there anything I can do? I guess just wait and see what happens?

Thanks

EJ

Actually, I checked the dates and it was 4th June they arrived, so it is still day 19 today. I have them in the diary to hatch on 2nd July.

 

[Sweetfolly]

I'll bet you ANYTHING that the ebay seller sent you chicken eggs, not duck eggs. Or, maybe they stuck a few chicken eggs in as extras. It's a full week too early for a duck egg to be pipping.

 

[CityChicker]

Are you *sure* you have the dates right? That seems almost impossible for Runners. My Runners typically take closer to 30 days to hatch (the longest of any of my ducks). On occasion, I have some of my bantam breeds (like Mini Appleyards) that will pip by about day 24, but 19? for Runners? That seems impossible. The temperature would have to be WAY off for that to happen (not likely at all with a broody). I suppose it might be entirely possible that they were already developing when you set them, but it would be like one in a million I think.

Editing to add: Yeah, Annarie is probably right that they could very well be chicken eggs.

 

[Denninmi]

Yes, I agree -- nothing Man nor Beast could do would make a duck egg hatch 10 days early -- a day or two, yes.

It sounds to me as if there was a mixup. I would see what hatches and then contact the seller -- probably someone who ordered chicken eggs the same time from the seller got your duck eggs and you got their chicken eggs.

 

[ejctm]

I bought them off a breeder who breeds her own pet ducks, so unlikely to have got mixed up with chicken's eggs. They were also larger than my chicken's eggs and white/blue-green in colour.

Should I tape them a bit over the crack do you think?

 

[Sweetfolly]

Quote:
No - they've pipped because they need air (that is, if they're hatching normally and nothing abnormal's going on); you don't want to tape over their air-hole and suffocate them. Besides, once they start zipping, I doubt a piece of tape will keep them in!

Definitely keep us posted on what hatches though! If they really are ducklings, I just don't see how they can be developed enough to survive at 19 days.

 

[FenDruadin]

How far did they come? Is there any chance they were partially incubated when you got them? Seems unlikely they'd survive the mail trip, but in hot weather... who knows? That is very strange--I can't wait to hear what pops out of those eggs--

But if they *do* hatch early, take them away from your broody right away so she won't abandon the eggs that are hatching on schedule.

 

[ejctm]

Annarie - I agree and am very worried they won't survive.

Curiosity - that thought occurred to me, and I have already emailed the seller to ask if they were partially incubated or kept in a warm place for a few days, and am waiting for a response. The listing says that only eggs that are max 2 days old are sent, so it seems unlikely. They were posted the day after purchase and took a day to arrive. They only came about a hundred miles by post. It might have been a hot spell though, I don't remember!

 

[ejctm]

The other thing I was thinking was that perhaps the mummy hen, or her sisters pecked at the eggs causing the shells to crack? There is definitely a point of impact (which I took to be from the inside) and then from that point a crack going left and a crack going right. It is in the right place to be a pip though, with the cracks radiating around the end of the egg. It has not gone through the shell yet - still very hairline. How many days could it take for the pipping (if it is that) to be finished and baby born? Might that take it nearer the 9 day hatch date or am I kidding myself?

I'm just perplexed at the moment.

I dampened the turf underneath the eggs this evening just in case they need a bit more humidity as it had gone quite dry. Hope that was the right thing to do.

I'll update tomorrow with any developments. On GMT here in the UK and time for bed now!

 

[katharinad]

Ok, high heat can make them go faster. What I suspect is that the eggs were already a couple of days along when the seller shipped them. It could be that the seller picked them up as he or she found them in the yard not even checking their age or status. They probably went along their incubation as they were being in transit to you. The heat not being right during transit is ok because that will just slow them down a little but not necessarily kill them. All that can accommodate the 10 days. Did you candle them when they arrived? If they were fresh all you should have seen was clear, but it they were already along you should have seen blood vessels. So at this point I would not worry about the piping. This only means that they are ready. Let nature take care of it.