Desperately Trying to Hatch Ducklings

[Mrichard0930]

Update with new photos: some I absolutely know are not developing, one was one of my most developed and I think it quit for some reason (I hope it doesn’t have to do with when the rotation tray cracked an egg and I had to clean everything out) others are more lively and moving!

The first photo— clearly nothing going on in there.
The second few photos— more lively and movement is seen.
The next few photos— this is egg #13 and I swore it was a super egg. However now I see a black mass which I’m assuming is the embryo and no movement unless I move the egg. And I’m curious as to if that’s a blood ring forming? Of course I’ll wait until day 10 to dispose of any quitters just in case but I just wanted more opinions of it this egg has given up on me.
The last few photos— #8 snuck up on me with its development. It was nowhere near as bouncy and lovely as #13 on Friday. It’s weird, almost like they’re all developing differently.

I’m feeling hopeful but very defeated at the same time because the process hasn’t been easy with the cracked egg and regulating temp and humidity after I had to clean all that up. I’m tehing to stay positive and think “day 8! Only twenty to go!” But I also know so much can happen in twenty days AND i have to go to a wedding 9 hours away on Memorial Day weekend and teach my house sitter how to care for these VERY fragile babies. Honestly I wish I could take them with me but that’s just crazy.

Omg yeay they’re so developing !!! I thought the same thing I was hoping for one at least but really wanted three. You sound like me asking and panicking lol Your thread will be my go to when I get eggs in July to hatch. You probably asked every question I will have

 

[WVduckchick]

It looks like I have 5 eggs with action and 5 eggs that either weren’t fertile or quit. The only late quitter was #13. I’m hoping the odds are in my favor! Going to stop candling as often. For this period (day 8 until lockdown) what do you think the ideal humidity would be for them? The temp is around 100 (def not over 100) I have three thermomiters including the incubator. Also do you think turning them more would give the five good ones a better chance? Right now I turn between 5-7 times a day but I could easily do more

The eggs are laying down, right? I have had, and have read of more folks this year having slowing developing CAMs. That's the blood vessel network that should eventually cover the entire egg. The turning is what helps this network expand all over the egg.

So... The next time you turn, place your flashlight on the air cell end before you roll the egg. You should see the blood vessels mostly on top. Then watch as you roll, they move to the bottom. Between turns, it gradually gravitates back to the top, and develops more and more each time.

Point being, the more you turn, the better, but not to be excessive. Once the network is established throughout the egg, the importance of turning decreases.

Here is one in mid-turn (it's kinda neat to watch, and also a chance to candle in place lol)

 

[ColleenRyan]

Omg yeay they’re so developing !!! I thought the same thing I was hoping for one at least but really wanted three. You sound like me asking and panicking lol Your thread will be my go to when I get eggs in July to hatch. You probably asked every question I will have

I get so overly thorough when I’m nervous!! I want to know anything I can do at all to increase the probability they’ll hatch! I have to go away to a wedding in NC on Memorial Day weekend and it’s gonna be hard for me to trust my house sitter to properly care for them ahhh

 

[ColleenRyan]

The eggs are laying down, right? I have had, and have read of more folks this year having slowing developing CAMs. That's the blood vessel network that should eventually cover the entire egg. The turning is what helps this network expand all over the egg.

So... The next time you turn, place your flashlight on the air cell end before you roll the egg. You should see the blood vessels mostly on top. Then watch as you roll, they move to the bottom. Between turns, it gradually gravitates back to the top, and develops more and more each time.

Point being, the more you turn, the better, but not to be excessive. Once the network is established throughout the egg, the importance of turning decreases.

Here is one in mid-turn (it's kinda neat to watch, and also a chance to candle in place lol)
View attachment 1391724

Yes the eggs are laying down! I’ve turned them 7 times today but I could stay up later and get two more in. If I can do literally anything to make them hatch I will. Do you know what the most successful humidity rate is at this stage, around day 10, is? I see everything from 30%-65%

 

[Miss Lydia]

@WVduckchick

 

[ColleenRyan]

My temp on my incubator was set to 38 Celsius but after I removed the tray my inside thermomiter s were reading 97 so I bumped the temp to 38.6 gradually to not shock any eggs and that brought it to 99-100 on the two inside thermomiters. I know it’s overkill but I might get one more medical grade mercury thermometer (but they don’t use murcury in them anymore I don’t think) anyway! Regardsss I just don’t want to make my little eggs toooooooo warm... honestly I feel like a little too hot might be worse than a little too cool as long as nothing is extreme. What do you guys think? I’m getting a little more comfortable in trusting the process and just improving when I need to. Eggs are darker today like they said they would be but when I turn off the lights I can see the little embryos bouncing around. At day 9 I have 5 viable embryos out of the initial 13 eggs... but mind you I collected eggs I had let my baby girl hold onto for up to three weeks and I wasn’t expecting anything to work so I’m shocked. Any help with the temp / humidity at this point to help ensure a hatch would be beyond appreciated I hope future ducky incubator mamas follow this thread because I think I’m asking every question under the sun! Thank you everyone for continuing to help me so much. This is seriously healing my broken heart, I didn’t know what I was going to do when my babies were taken from me.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@WVduckchick
@Pyxis

 

[WVduckchick]

Yes the eggs are laying down! I’ve turned them 7 times today but I could stay up later and get two more in. If I can do literally anything to make them hatch I will. Do you know what the most successful humidity rate is at this stage, around day 10, is? I see everything from 30%-65%

You see different humidity readings because there are more factors to consider. There is no easy number. Check out the article in my signature in Red on Incubation Humidity. Whereabouts do you live? Is it naturally humid, or dry?

Also, on the number of turns, usually when we sleep is the longest that an egg sits without being turned, that's why the "odd" number thing came about, so that the longest period is a different side each night. Automatic turners usually turn once an hour, so that's 24 a day! We can't usually manage that many manually. But I think you are doing fine! You are almost past the most critical stages, so hang in there!

 

[Kiki]

. I know it’s overkill but I might get one more medical grade mercury thermometer (but they don’t use murcury in them anymore I don’t think)

It is NOT overkill.
Having a good stable correct temperature is smart.

 

[ColleenRyan]

You see different humidity readings because there are more factors to consider. There is no easy number. Check out the article in my signature in Red on Incubation Humidity. Whereabouts do you live? Is it naturally humid, or dry?

Also, on the number of turns, usually when we sleep is the longest that an egg sits without being turned, that's why the "odd" number thing came about, so that the longest period is a different side each night. Automatic turners usually turn once an hour, so that's 24 a day! We can't usually manage that many manually. But I think you are doing fine! You are almost past the most critical stages, so hang in there!

Thank you so much! I live in central New Jersey and right now it’s super humid outside, it’s been raining alllll week. We get pretty humid during the spring / summer. I work from Home as a musician / voice teacher and after I read how many times ducks turn the eggs in the Wild I’ve been trying to up my turns per day! They’re dancing around today and it’s adorable. I’m so excited to see the outcome of this incubation period. I’m really hoping I don’t need to assist any in hatching because that’ll definitely be overwhelming but I’ll go read up on the article you posted now!