Day 29 Duck Eggs - Help!

[mccombs]

I've got 5 eggs in my incubator, now on day 29. I've never hatched before and am a little... fidgety!

I'm trying so hard to leave them alone, but i'm getting concerned now. I just did a very quick candling, and none have internally pipped, though one is wriggling about inside (looks like the membrane is rippling) though there is no visible movement from the egg.

Is there anything I can do to help? I'm trying to keep humidity as high as I can (can I accidentally keep it too high)

I want my babies out!

 

[carcar80]

Just try to be patient, give them more time and keep that humidity UP. The others, did you see any movement from them too? What has your temp run during incubation?

Hatching is a very nerve-wracking thing!

Edit: also, are you counting your "set day" as day 1? I've seen many people say they don't count the first day.

 

[mccombs]

Hi!

I'm just trying to sit on my hands now! He's the only one I've seen any candling movement from, but since posting I've seen the whole egg wiggle! Is this good news?

I initially counted set day as day 1, but they didn't go in until 2pm. So assuming the next day was day 1, we're on 29 now.

My temp has been a consistent 37.5, though we've had two short powercuts during this time (an hour a time each) during which I plugged the holes and tried to keep temp up. Humidity is on about 75% at the moment. Is that too high? Too low? I'm also aware that I don't know how accurate my thermometer is, being the first time I've used it.

I did the float test 24 hours ago and all the eggs moved. Have I just got to wait and see?

Thank you!

 

[carcar80]

A rocking egg is a great sign!! Power outage- psha! Mine was out for 12* and my eggs got to 65*F right in the middle of my incubation. Only lost one baby to that so I called it a win.

Others will chime in on humidity and such.. I don't actually measure humidity, just keep water in my bator. But I will tell you from my Easter weekend hatch.. My "hatch day" was supposed to be Friday. Only ONE hatched Friday and the rest continued throughout the weekend and the last one arrived Monday NIGHT! So try and be patient and others will help out where they can as well. Good luck to you! What kind of babies??

 

[mccombs]

Haha that's such a relief! I've just got such first hatch nerves. How frequently is this egg meant to be moving? I'm not watching it all the time but keep going to look through the window and I haven't seen it move since!

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c281/Birdy427/Poultry/CrestedCall004.jpg This kind of baby!

 

[carcar80]

They work a little bit, then rest a lot. Seriously. Try not to stress.

LOLing at how easy that is to say from this side of the screen.

 

[carcar80]

Adorable!

 

[mccombs]

Thank you! Let's just hope I get some now!

How many/what type have you got? I'm so excited and incredibly nervous! I just want to help but know I can't!

 

[carcar80]

The ones I hatched over the weekend are all Mallard.. Seven total.

I put eight eggs in Wed night, seven Pekin and one Mallard. Some of the Pekin ones may be mixed (or the Mallard for that matter I guess), no way to know til they hatch!

 

[mccombs]

How exciting! Like a mystery goodie bag!