Duck Egg incubation help

[seussiii]

Cross posting this from the incubation forum for visibility.

So I'm towards the end of my first hatch. I started with 4 Ancona duck eggs. All were fertile. I removed 2 about a week in that i THOUGHT quit...but now im pretty sure (after reading more)... were fine.

One of the remaining two died for certain at around day 15 or so... shell turned dark grey and smelled.

Last one I am just not sure on... I haven't seen movement in it for a week maybe a week and a half. I figured I'd see it to the end but It hasn't changed color, exploded, or started smelling. When candling I can see some vessels on the edge but mostly a dark mass where the duckling would be. I just put it on lock down (day 25) and its day 26 right now. I see no break on the air sac when candling and notice no movement or wobble.

Weird thing is... there is a small yellowish space opposite of the air sac on the pointy end of the egg.

I'm assuming its dead but just curious what you guys think? I've read that it's possible that it can stretch out to day 30-31? Maybe slow to develop? I'd imagine if it were dead this long I would have had the rotting and shell color change like the other one right?

Thanks

 

[vicky1212123]

I've never had yellow on the other end and the egg was still viable after the chick is mostly formed, but then again I deal with quail. Have you tried the candling lights at all angles and not seen movement? Worst case, you can just check the veins in a couple days. If it's dead, the veins will probably have disentigrated

 

[shawluvsbirds]

If you see anything that looks remotely like a vein. . or red around the edge of the air sack I would wait and see. it gets really hard to see anything in there when the shell gets full of baby towards the end. But there is a good chance it's alive if you see vessels.

 

[seussiii]

Yea im definitely going to see it through. I have candled at all angles and through both "sacs". the smaller yellow one doesnt seem to be air from the looks of it. We shall see!

I have the incubator at a steady 80% humidity and 100 deg F right now

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Yea im definitely going to see it through. I have candled at all angles and through both "sacs". the smaller yellow one doesnt seem to be air from the looks of it. We shall see!

I have the incubator at a steady 80% humidity and 100 deg F right now

That seems like pretty high humidity to me

 

[shawluvsbirds]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/
@Pyxis

 

[seussiii]

Well after reading through literally dozens of posts I've found people suggesting anywhere from 50-85% humidity during lock down. Some of them claiming as long as its over 60% during lock down they should be fine.

Is that wrong? Lots of conflicting info out there but across the spectrum you have the "Welllll I've been hatching for years and this has always worked for me" response.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Well after reading through literally dozens of posts I've found people suggesting anywhere from 50-85% humidity during lock down. Some of them claiming as long as its over 60% during lock down they should be fine.

Is that wrong? Lots of conflicting info out there but across the spectrum you have the "Welllll I've been hatching for years and this has always worked for me" response.

I guess it's so hard to determine an exact humidity range because different climates can affect your humidity so much. I just know that too high humidity can cause drowning so I wouldn't let it get any higher if I were you. . I would let it go down to closer to 70 percent. But I'm pretty new at hatching myself so I am far from an expert.

 

[seussiii]

Appreciate the help! Keep em coming if anyone has gone through similar. Will keep you posted and hopefully its just a late bloomer.

 

[seussiii]

small dark spot visible on egg shell. Still no movement. Not calling quits yet but we'll see...

tonight ~8-9p will be 28 days