DUCK EGG EMERGENCY

[Adz_k187]

hello all, I have a duck egg in the incubator, it’s supposed to hatch Tuesday but it’s hatching today!!! 3 days early!!! I turned the egg to see a hole in it and the duckling moving inside, I’ve put the humidity up, will it be okay?!?!? This is my first time, I’m panicking right now.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Yes, it should be fine. Your temperature may have been a little high. This egg has pipped externally but it may not hatch for another 24-48 hours. They pip because oxygen is low. Now that he has plenty, he should be ok. Do NOT be in a hurry for him to hatch. Up the humidity and sit on your hands.

 

[Duckbreeder2020]

Don’t worry, 3 days early is fine. Some hatch 4 or 5 days early of mine and ended up fine. The humidity should be raised as you did. You seem to be doing just fine! Keep us updated hope your duck hatches ok!

 

[MGG]

hello all, I have a duck egg in the incubator, it’s supposed to hatch Tuesday but it’s hatching today!!! 3 days early!!! I turned the egg to see a hole in it and the duckling moving inside, I’ve put the humidity up, will it be okay?!?!? This is my first time, I’m panicking right now.View attachment 2402716

Calm down, lol! I totally agree with cheezenkwackers, up your humidity to 70-75%, and your temp must have been too high throughout incubation for him to be hatching early. Have you checked your incubator with a calibrated thermometer? Is it a still air or forced air incubator? And is your hydrometer salt tested?
He probably will not hatch until Sunday or Monday.

Yes, it should be fine. Your temperature may have been a little high. This egg has pipped externally but it may not hatch for another 24-48 hours. They pip because oxygen is low. Now that he has plenty, he should be ok. Do NOT be in a hurry for him to hatch. Up the humidity and sit on your hands.

X2.

 

[Adz_k187]

Out of curiosity, is that bubblewrap in the incubator?

It’s a piece of tape that’s come loose lol

 

[Isaac 0]

Out of curiosity, is that bubblewrap in the incubator?

 

[Weeg]

She should be fine, as long as he is moving, @MGG @shawluvsbirds @Acre4Me Any ideas? @Flockincrazy @DancingDucks

 

[Weeg]

Out of curiosity, is that bubblewrap in the incubator?

I just noticed that..... Good question

 

[MGG]

The humidities still a little low, I put some vinegar in the water as I’ve read it helps. Ahh I’m just so nervous! Like I said it’s my first time. It is still air, and thermometer is okay, it’s at 100F/38C as I’ve read that’s what is needed for a still air. I’ve run in to another problem, throughout incubation my temp has been good and stable, but now it’s suddenly dropped and won’t rise back up?!? Is it because of the higher humidity?! How do I fix this?!?! I’ve put blankets on top but it’s still too low and won’t go back up, whyyy did it have to be on the most important day

I would take the vinegar out, and put in a wet sponge. You can also lightly mist the eggs every hour or so. If it's been 100 degrees the whole time, that's wrong. In a still air incubator the temp needs to be 102 at all times. 100 is too low. And if your thermometer was not calibrated, but your babies are hatching early, and it's "been" 100 the whole time, your thermometer is not correct. You need to calibrate it. All of the ones I've ever bought were always at least 1 degree off. And I have many different brands.
That is because you're trying to up the humidity. The temp always drops to around 97 in my incubator on hatch day. The babies are fine, they can produce enough heat for themselves by then. As long as it doesn't drop below 97, they won't get cold. Humidity and ventilation is much more important at this stage. Do you have all of your vents open? Babies need lots of oxygen while hatching.

 

[Adz_k187]

I would take the vinegar out, and put in a wet sponge. You can also lightly mist the eggs every hour or so. If it's been 100 degrees the whole time, that's wrong. In a still air incubator the temp needs to be 102 at all times. 100 is too low. And if your thermometer was not calibrated, but your babies are hatching early, and it's "been" 100 the whole time, your thermometer is not correct. You need to calibrate it. All of the ones I've ever bought were always at least 1 degree off. And I have many different brands.
That is because you're trying to up the humidity. The temp always drops to around 97 in my incubator on hatch day. The babies are fine, they can produce enough heat for themselves by then. As long as it doesn't drop below 97, they won't get cold. Humidity and ventilation is much more important at this stage. Do you have all of your vents open? Babies need lots of oxygen while hatching.

Also last question!!! So where it’s peeped I can see yellow membrane, it looks quite dry? Is this normal?