Am I incubating duck eggs correctly

[tanithcrane]

hi I am incubating some duck eggs it's my first time and I did do some research before however I have seen on website some new things that I wasn't aware of I put the first 2 in there 2 weeks ago and then been adding others they seem to be moving already and developing although 2 did go bad and another two developed blood ring
In the instructions for the incubator it said fill the resivour all the way to the top the incubator Dosent have a humidity thermometer just has the resivour but now I heard that it's meant to be increased at lock down and it's been full to the top ! I also heard that misting the eggs and having the incubator open for 10 minutes is good because it mimicks the hen leaving nest And coming back
But I haven't been doing this till today and it's day 17 I really hope I haven't messed it all up and i really hope some of them didn't die because of me i feel so stupid will they be ok and what should I do

 

[Miss Lydia]

@WVduckchick
@Pyxis
@shawluvsbirds

 

[2 many chickens]

So you've been adding eggs while others are incubating? Staggered hatches are tough. How far apart are the eggs?

When I first began incubating, I had a crap incubator and didn't know my humidity or anything the whole time. Just filled the water resvervor to the top daily... I didn't mist eggs or remove lid ever. Only to flip eggs. 7 out of 10 of my ducks hatched.. they were okay.
Basically, I think your eggs should be okay. now I have a hydrometer for my hatches.. you can get one at pets mart in the reptile area.

 

[WVduckchick]

Yea the staggered hatch throws a twist in, but is manageable. More importantly, how are your air cells looking?? What breed of duck and whereabouts are you located? (Local humidity high or low?)

 

[tanithcrane]

Ive just realised the some eggs i put in on the 6th and then the 12th when i put eggs in lockdown some wont be due till 6 days but wont be able to turn them as others will be on lockdown how do i manage this
Air cells are looking good i think they seem to be getting bigger and we live near the sea we are in the uk it seems to be quite dry in our house
Thankyou for the help

 

[WVduckchick]

Ive just realised the some eggs i put in on the 6th and then the 12th when i put eggs in lockdown some wont be due till 6 days but wont be able to turn them as others will be on lockdown how do i manage this
Air cells are looking good i think they seem to be getting bigger and we live near the sea we are in the uk it seems to be quite dry in our house
Thankyou for the help

If you don't have another incubator, you will need to check the air cells when it gets close to time for the first set to hatch. If possible, you can hold off a day of increased humidity, so that the younger set won't be too affected by the higher humidity. 3 or 4 days of not turning the others shouldn't hurt them either, by that time, they should be far enough along, being only 6 days apart.
You may also want to consider some type of separation system for the non-hatching eggs while the others are hatching also. Mesh bag, wall made from plastic grid, basket with holes, etc.

Then while the first group hatches, you'll need to decide whether to reduce humidity again, then increase again when the second group is ready, but it may be possible to just leave it up for the later group.

 

[tanithcrane]

If you don't have another incubator, you will need to check the air cells when it gets close to time for the first set to hatch. If possible, you can hold off a day of increased humidity, so that the younger set won't be too affected by the higher humidity. 3 or 4 days of not turning the others shouldn't hurt them either, by that time, they should be far enough along, being only 6 days apart.
You may also want to consider some type of separation system for the non-hatching eggs while the others are hatching also. Mesh bag, wall made from plastic grid, basket with holes, etc.

Then while the first group hatches, you'll need to decide whether to reduce humidity again, then increase again when the second group is ready, but it may be possible to just leave it up for the later group.

Thankyou for the advice ok that sounds good ille try that i think i have two that i put in there yesterday i probably shouldnt have put any more in there but husband said i should
Ive accidently had it on its highest humidity for two weeks and they seem like there doing well ille see how it goes ille try then to seperate the others hopefully they will all hatch close together
Thanks again for help

 

[tanithcrane]

So you've been adding eggs while others are incubating? Staggered hatches are tough. How far apart are the eggs?

When I first began incubating, I had a crap incubator and didn't know my humidity or anything the whole time. Just filled the water resvervor to the top daily... I didn't mist eggs or remove lid ever. Only to flip eggs. 7 out of 10 of my ducks hatched.. they were okay.
Basically, I think your eggs should be okay. now I have a hydrometer for my hatches.. you can get one at pets mart in the reptile area.

4 are 3 days later and 3 are 6 days later and then there was two that were put in yesterday think ive made things alot more complicated this morning i misted eggs for first time and left lid off for 10 mins now im thinking i should have just not bothered doing that should i carry on doing that once a day or should just keep on doing the same thing i have been doing
Thanks for the help much appreciated

 

[WVduckchick]

4 are 3 days later and 3 are 6 days later and then there was two that were put in yesterday think ive made things alot more complicated this morning i misted eggs for first time and left lid off for 10 mins now im thinking i should have just not bothered doing that should i carry on doing that once a day or should just keep on doing the same thing i have been doing
Thanks for the help much appreciated

Kinda depends on how the eggs are developing. Have you candled them?
Also, it may be helpful to you to read this article
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

 

[tanithcrane]

Kinda depends on how the eggs are developing. Have you candled them?
Also, it may be helpful to you to read this article
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

They seem to be doing really well i have some pictures but some air sacs seem to be on the side rather then blunt end of egg ive been candling them at least twice a week but think it may be too much im going to give it a week then candle them again but just concerned that im doing it all wrong
Thankyou for the article im going to have a read just really hope i havent killed them all