Desperately Trying to Hatch Ducklings

[WVduckchick]

Thanks so much! I’m doing everything the same except turning hem as much as I can (always an odd number)

The odd number thing isn't really that important. The important part is that they don't stay on the same side the longest amount of time every day, which is usually overnight for most people. Therefore odd number turns ensures that. But...if you turn on a regular interval, the actual number doesn't matter. Just fyi.

 

[BantyChooks]

Seriously waiting till 10 days of incubation will let you know if anything is viable..
Keep waiting..Candle day 10...

Some of us like to candle sooner.

 

[cppeace]

How old were the eggs you incubated? I’m just unsure because I know some of mine are older than what’s ideal I’m just desperately working with what I have

Mine were fairly fresh I would say 2-5 days old. It's been a couple years so not positive.

 

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

Following... I put 6 duck eggs in the incubator from mama duck at work after she died on the nest. She was a peking and daddy is a Mallard. Three quit but one has hatched already. I assisted with the hatch on day 29 (the other two eggs were put in 3 days later as they were in someone's garage and were to be someone's lunch). I should have NOT let the duck get out of the egg so soon though. He never was able to turn and zip and was pecking the same spot and nothing else. So when he did get out after I helped, he did not absorb all the yolk which would have been absorbed had he been in the shell a few more hours. Had I noticed it, I could have kept his bottom in the bottom of the shell and put him in a cup to restrict movement and let that yolk absorb. Currently though...knock on wood... he is still OK and the vet thinks the yolk sac will dry up and fall off on its own. The other two eggs that came into the incubator later are now doing the external pip. I had wondered if they were still alive since I didn't hear or see the egg moving so I took my mini flashlight and QUICKLY shined it into the egg's air cell and you could easily see them working away on the inside. Had I done that with my other duck...I bet I would have been less likely to help out too early. (though still not sure if it would have hatched without assistance) Just glad I have a way to read the humidity levels. I got that from Petsmart. I do know the extreme loss of a beloved pet though... nothing hurt me as bad as my Downey being killed. That goose was my shadow....

 

[cppeace]

The only way I ever helped any hatchers was sometimes, if it had been 8+ hours I would make their crack a bit bigger. I don't recommend helping much more than that unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

Oh, the duck eggs that were in the garage were in their garage a week before at LEAST and in 50 degree weather. The lady had no intention of raising the eggs or letting them grow into ducks since she would eat the eggs regularly but after Mrs. Eleanor died... yeah, have to try.

 

[WVduckchick]

The only way I ever helped any hatchers was sometimes, if it had been 8+ hours I would make their crack a bit bigger. I don't recommend helping much more than that unless absolutely necessary.

8 hours is way way way too early to assist.

 

[cppeace]

like I said I rarely assist, generally only do it that soon if chick is acting weak, less cheeping, no attempted progress. Usually, with normal hatchers you wait 24 hours.

 

[WVduckchick]

like I said I rarely assist, generally only do it that soon if chick is acting weak, less cheeping, no attempted progress. Usually, with normal hatchers you wait 24 hours.

Assisting is not necessarily a bad thing. The bad part comes with assisting at the wrong time. Ducklings can easily take 36-48 hours from pip to hatch. 24 is a better maximum for chickens.

 

[cppeace]

To each their own. I'm not an expert. Just say what worked for me. Incubating seems to vary a bunch person to person.