An Incubate debate

[Quacking]

Quote:
Yes it is possible. Eggs can hold temperature very well and it can take hours for the temperature in the centre of the egg to drop. I have candled eggs that were laid in summer, and only sat on at night and when a duck was only in the box laying and they showed greater developement than the fresher laid eggs when candled at 7 days of incubation. Look at the egde of the airsac for signs of a vein if the egg is so dark. It may be hard to see, but of your flashlight it powerful enough you may still make something out. Veins mean the duckling inside is still alive. Also look for signs of momement form the eggs, it will be like a small twitch that increases with frequency the closer they get to hacthing. You could also try smelling the eggs. You can smell if an egg is rotten through the shell.

 

[ravnis]

Thanks for advice. I probably did not make myself clear. I started incubating the day I made the first post.

THey have now been in the incubator for 20 days. I candled, probably more than I should, but they now appear to be much farther along than they should be. When I first candled i found 2 eggs out of 22 that were clear and removed them. All of the others had what looked to me like good blood development and appeared very similar to day 6 of metzer farms on day 5 when I first candled them.

They now appear like day 24-25.

 

[Quacking]

Have you calibrated your thermometer? If the temperature is too high in the incubator it could also account for the developement being further along than expected.

 

[ravnis]

yes, I did the ice water bath method and used a medical thermometer as well. Might have a variation of 0.2 between all three.

My biggest concern was that they had died on me, but I did see some movement in one. I moved them to the bottom and turned the auto turner off. I plan to get a spray bottle to mist them per storeys book and others advising it on this board once a day till hatch. I have added water containers but I am struggling to get humidity up above 67%.