Duck air cells way too small hatching in 2-3 days

[Beck5131]

I have two duck eggs with air cells that are extremely small for day 25, is there any way I can rapidly increase the size without shrink wrapping the eggs? The air cells are probably the size they should be around day 10-15

 

[Miss Lydia]

Let's see about finding some experience hatchers here
@DuckyDonna
@WVduckchick
@New duck mommy 2021

 

[citymeetscountry]

Do you have pics? Did you weigh the eggs when you set them/now. I know when mine drew down they did so quickly. From what I’ve read a small air sac means the humidity was too high (so that makes sense why you worry about shrink wrapping if you lower it). Hopefully others with more experience chime in. Best of luck

 

[DuckyDonna]

I'm not sure at all but @WVduckchick would probably know or @Magnolia Ducks

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

 

[WVduckchick]

Humidity was likely too high throughout. It’s pretty much too late to do anything about it now. I would suggest waiting for the first internal or external pip before adding your water for hatching. Make sure your vents are fully open.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I have two duck eggs with air cells that are extremely small for day 25, is there any way I can rapidly increase the size without shrink wrapping the eggs? The air cells are probably the size they should be around day 10-15

How are the air cells looking now ? Any change to them dropping down yet

 

[Beck5131]

Do you have pics? Did you weigh the eggs when you set them/now. I know when mine drew down they did so quickly. From what I’ve read a small air sac means the humidity was too high (so that makes sense why you worry about shrink wrapping if you lower it). Hopefully others with more experience chime in. Best of luck

I do not have pics currently, I'm at work. I've hatched eggs before only using a heat lamp and never had any issues, this was my first time using an incubator and I followed the directions for adding water, now I wish I'd have just stuck with my heat lamp. I did take all of the water out two days ago but I've seen very little difference in the air cells. I thought of maybe putting some rice in the bottom to pull some moisture from the eggs.

How are the air cells looking now ? Any change to them dropping down yet

One egg's did get significantly bigger, the other smaller one barely changed but they're both in the process of hatching right now. I'm praying they both hatch without any issues.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I do not have pics currently, I'm at work. I've hatched eggs before only using a heat lamp and never had any issues, this was my first time using an incubator and I followed the directions for adding water, now I wish I'd have just stuck with my heat lamp. I did take all of the water out two days ago but I've seen very little difference in the air cells. I thought of maybe putting some rice in the bottom to pull some moisture from the eggs.

One egg's did get significantly bigger, the other smaller one barely changed but they're both in the process of hatching right now. I'm praying they both hatch without any issues.

I’ll cross my fingers for you
Keep us updated

 

[WVduckchick]

I do not have pics currently, I'm at work. I've hatched eggs before only using a heat lamp and never had any issues, this was my first time using an incubator and I followed the directions for adding water, now I wish I'd have just stuck with my heat lamp. I did take all of the water out two days ago but I've seen very little difference in the air cells. I thought of maybe putting some rice in the bottom to pull some moisture from the eggs.

One egg's did get significantly bigger, the other smaller one barely changed but they're both in the process of hatching right now. I'm praying they both hatch without any issues.

Incubator directions aren’t always reliable, depending on your location, local humidity, type of eggs, etc. I guess they try to be as general as possible, but a new incubator always takes some time to get dialed in for yourself.
I would suspect an actual incubator to be more reliable than a heat lamp, so give it another try with less water next time. Many of us don’t add any water at all until the final 3 days of incubation. But you will have to experiment some.

Hope yours are hatching well now. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Beck5131]

I’ll cross my fingers for you
Keep us updated

They both pipped Friday and made very little progress, I decided to try this evening to try to assist hatching and they are currently half out of the shell but their yolk sacs aren't completely absorbed so I'm waiting and hoping they make it. They do look weak but occasionally move their heads and peep. I'm not super hopeful.