duck eggs: dead or alive

[jfishfam]

Thanks, Lockdown, that means don't open the incubator?

 

[davekrista]

Quote:
Yes, make sure your humidity is correct, higher than it was.... Can't remember off the top of my head what the percentage was. I had hatched my 1st hatch back in October. And no matter how much you would like to open that incubator, DON"T!!!! Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[jfishfam]

How long should it be before the duck makes a whole in the shell? Just before lockdown we added more water to the incubator. Should that be enough?

 

[davekrista]

Quote:
Do you have something that measures humidity? I was using a home made incubator and had a hole that i used to put a straw in to add water as i needed it. According to the Metzers website, it should be at 94%. http://www.metzerfarms.com/IncubatingAndHatching.cfm?CustID=282440

 

[The Duck ABC's]

I'm aiming for 85%. If not sure have a bowl of water inside of the incubator with a papertowel coming out of it and going up over the side. That gets it humidity high enough. Gave all the cavities in the bottom tray filled with water. Only use 100F water to fill the machine. Ducklings need 24-48 hours from the internal pip to the external pip. Then another 24-48 hours to come out of the egg. So it is a slow process and do not try to rush it.

 

[jfishfam]

No, we don't. My son used to have one with his tree frog terrarium but it's gone. We kind of went into this hatching unplanned. I hate to open the incubator now? I hope things are going okay. I just wonder how long before we should expect to see a crack in the shell.

 

[jfishfam]

So, do you think we should wet a paper towel and stick it out of the water bowl?

 

[The Duck ABC's]

You don't need to do anything if you are using a commercial incubator and have filled all the water cavities with water. With a home made incubator you may have to add the paper to wick up extra moisture.

 

[jfishfam]

Are you sure??? It's killing me not to be helpful. We also have a second egg not as far along, but close, should we be turning that egg? The duckling seems to be cheeping strong, but I don't hear any pecking like it's trying to get out? Being a newbie is challenging, all the unknowns. Ok, second egg is cheeping.

 

[jfishfam]

maybe I should clarify, I mean I want to help hatch (I know I can't). I did have to open up the bator because one cell of water was empty. It seems there is a hole somewhere in the cell.