Day 28... shadowing still normal?

[Lydiacytlau]

Hi all. I'm new here and wondered if someone with experience could advise me. I am trying to hatch runner ducks and I'm on day 28. My incubator broke on day ten (argh!) And I quickly made a DIY incy out of a box and heat lamp. I didnt have great expectations! I started with 6 eggs. 4 didnt make it this far. I have 2 left that I have grown rather attached to . I have managed to keep temp between 36 and 38 and humidity between 45 and 55 with lots of tinkering over the last few weeks.

It's now day 28. I locked down 3 days ago... as far as you can in a cardboard box! Humidity is at about 70. I stopped turning. Candling shows big air cells and 'shadowing' that's been going on for 3 days straight. Lots of shadowy bulging at the base of air cell. But no internal pip as far as I can tell. The eggs are shuddering but no cheeps or taps.

Huge backstory sorry! My question is. Should shadowing with big aircell be going on this long with no internal pip and cheeping? I've hatched once before but not in these conditions

Huge thanks to anyone with any thoughts.
Xx

 

[Texag87]

I am no expert but if temp got down to 36 you may have to wait an extra day or two. We are in the same boat with day 24 eggs looking like day 20.

 

[Lydiacytlau]

Thanks best of luck for yours!

 

[Texag87]

Same to you. If I ever try hatching again it will be with a better ‘bator than this cheap Chinese one we have.

 

[JaeG]

I recently hatched Muscovy eggs and the days and days of shadowing really threw me as well. My eggs shadowed for about 4 and a half days before finally internally pipping. Then it was another 2 and a half days before they actually hatched.

Fingers crossed for your babies.

 

[Lydiacytlau]

Thanks that's made me relax a bit!

 

[DuckyDonna]

Thanks that's made me relax a bit!

Also, did you count the day you put the eggs in the bator as day 1? I know I always did but it's really the same time the next day that is day 1.