Duck Eggs Hatching/Incubating Questions

[JenHarmon]

Ok, so I started out with 12 duck eggs a friend gave me. We have 8 that ended up being fertile and growing embryos. Hatch day should be the August 26th. I have one or two eggs that look like they MIGHT contain twins (I posted about that a few days ago). I have one egg that is the size of a chicken egg (is THAT normal?). I am doing all this reading and getting more stressed as time goes by. I am still a bit confused on lock down. When they are in lock down, the eggs are on their sides and you don't open the incubator to turn them at all correct? Or am I wrong? And I put them on lock down on August 23rd or 24th? What if there is a problem? Do I open it then and take the egg out to assist and close it for the other babies still in it? I'm reading and taking notes....I am a nervous wreck lol

 

[Pyxis]

What date did you set the eggs?

The twins, if they are twins, will likely need help to hatch if they do make it to lockdown, but we can cross that bridge when we get there.

For lockdown, yes, you put them on their sides and stop turning them. If you do need to assist, then yes, you do open the incubator to do so and close it while you're working on the egg that needs help to keep the humidity up for the other ones in there.

 

[JenHarmon]

I put them in the incubator July 29th at noon. Do twin eggs try to hatch sooner than single embryo eggs?

 

[Pyxis]

August 23rd would be your first day of lockdown then I don't think they try to hatch sooner, but they can have problems getting out, since they get in each other's way, so you're really going to need to monitor them.

 

[JenHarmon]

I intend to stay home from the time we do lock down, until everyone is hatched and to watch them very close. I know the odds are against any duck twins....but I can try. I am trying to do all the research I can and am going to watch videos on hatching and everything.

 

[JenHarmon]

I read that some put a safety hole in the end of the eggs where the air cell is...is this done right before lockdown? I have been practicing on store bought chicken eggs just in case.

 

[Pyxis]

That's only done if the eggs are taking a long time to progress from internal pip to external pip, and would fall under assisting a hatch, which I actually wrote an article about if you want to give it a look:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[JenHarmon]

Ok thank you so much for your help!