Air sac to small?

[Swalla]

Is this my culprit to not hatching any eggs this year? Last year I did excellent with hatching. I’m following the same temp/humidity this year. The only difference thing is the hens are just laying their first eggs. Isn’t the shells thinner when they are first time layers? Just wondering if I should keep my humidity higher. I’ve had it between 45-55% & all of my eggs die between day 20-23. This egg is on day 23 & died the air sac is so small! This year my hatch rate is ZERO! Someone help me, please

 

[Swalla]

Adding that these are mallard duck eggs.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Isn’t the shells thinner when they are first time layers?

I don't do ducks, just chickens and occasionally turkeys, but not really. You can get about anything with a pullet's first eggs, but one reason to not hatch the first eggs is that the shells can be really thick. First eggs are typically pretty small but they usually get bigger the longer they lay. If she is producing a normal amount of shell material it has a lot less egg to cover so it can be pretty thick. As the egg gets bigger the shells get thinner. Not all pullets produce that much shell material, some seem to adjust that to the size of the egg.

Just wondering if I should keep my humidity higher. the air sac is so small!

This is exactly opposite. If the air sac is too small you need to lower the humidity during incubation so more moisture will escape. I don't know if that air sac is too small at that time for duck eggs or not.

This year my hatch rate is ZERO! Someone help me, please

I'll include some incubation troubleshooting guides. There are several different things that could cause them to not hatch or the embryo to die at any specific time. Humidity is one but not the only one. You might try opening the eggs and see if you can determine when they stopped developing or died and see if you can get any hints as to why.

Incubation Troubleshooting - Incubation and Embryology - University of Illinois Extension

Trouble Shooting Failures with Egg Incubation | Mississippi State University Extension Service (msstate.edu)

Common Incubation Problems: Causes and Remedies (ucanr.edu)

 

[FluffyDucky123]

If air sack is too big try not adding any water at all. My incubator sometimes does this. I don't add any water and my hydro meter shows that it is 55%!! Im sorry for your loss but are you sure they are dead, look closely for any movement before you throw them away.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Your humidity is too high. I would try dry hatching or at least keep it between 30-40%.

 

[Swalla]

I don't do ducks, just chickens and occasionally turkeys, but not really. You can get about anything with a pullet's first eggs, but one reason to not hatch the first eggs is that the shells can be really thick. First eggs are typically pretty small but they usually get bigger the longer they lay. If she is producing a normal amount of shell material it has a lot less egg to cover so it can be pretty thick. As the egg gets bigger the shells get thinner. Not all pullets produce that much shell material, some seem to adjust that to the size of the egg.


This is exactly opposite. If the air sac is too small you need to lower the humidity during incubation so more moisture will escape. I don't know if that air sac is too small at that time for duck eggs or not.


I'll include some incubation troubleshooting guides. There are several different things that could cause them to not hatch or the embryo to die at any specific time. Humidity is one but not the only one. You might try opening the eggs and see if you can determine when they stopped developing or died and see if you can get any hints as to why.

Incubation Troubleshooting - Incubation and Embryology - University of Illinois Extension

Trouble Shooting Failures with Egg Incubation | Mississippi State University Extension Service (msstate.edu)

Common Incubation Problems: Causes and Remedies (ucanr.edu)

Thank you for responding! I’ll adjust the humidity but they were also dying when I had it at 35-45%. I am hoping to find a solution soon to my problem!