Duck eggs pipping on day 25? Is this OK? UPDATE: hatching!

[Kim65]

This is my first incubated from day 1 (which was midnight 9/2) in my new brinsea eco 20 duckling hatch! It's done well with my mutt chicks, and even with a rescued unhatched duckling without a known due date. The temps and humidity have been very steady.

So I get home from work tonight, take off the lid and do the "mama duck goes to the pond" thing where they are uncovered for a couple of minutes and get a light spritz of water. And two eggs, right next to each other, have beginning pips.

I'm worried this is too early? Or do ducklings go longer between pip and hatch than chicks? Eeek, I googled and searched this forum and didn't see much in the "pipped too early" department. The duckling I hatched still had some vessels and a cord and bled a little at hatch, so maybe my 'bator is too warm?

Sorry, a worried ninny of a new duck mom here.

I've stopped the egg turner, closed the vents and added a moist sponge to increase the humidity and prevent shrink wrap. Should I turn the temp down to 99? Should I stop worrying

? Thanks in advance for any feedback

 

[pete55]

They often take about 36 hours to hatch from external pipping so I wouldntworry as you're on course for a day 27 hatch. I would hold your temperature att 99.5F and your humidity around 70%. Your post didnt make it too clear but you said one hatched and had active blood vessels, was this duckling from this htach?

 

[Kim65]

Sorry, the duckling with active blood vessels was NOT part of this hatch, but from an abandoned nest. He is a two months old now.

So it sounds like my kids are on for a day 27 hatch then

They have been on lockdown with the humidity up in range since last night. Thanks Pete, I feel so much better now

My mutt chicks seemed to pip and be out within 12 hours. Ducklings can take up to three days then? Very good to know.

 

[Kim65]

Good grief, one just hatched!! It was from one of the small light greenish eggs, maybe a mallard? I got the variety pack from Efowl. Anyway, perfectly absorbed eggyolk and cord, spunky little peeper

 

[Quackwacky]

I have been doing a lot of research on this since I am also on my first clutch from day 1 to hatch. I have had the pleasure of talking to a man who has been in the business of duck farming for 33 years now. He said on day 25 you need to turn them temp down to 98 degrees and increase humidity to 75%. Hope this helps, keep us updated. Or you can email me, I may need some advice as a first time stand in "momma duck"

 

[Llamaguy]

Hate to bump such an old thread, but it came up on a quick search:

My first two hatches always came a full day early to what I was expecting, but this month it was 3 days early! I set on 2/13 and they pipped and hatched 3/9, so only 25 days, too!

I guess it is a variable in gestation similar to people who have babies at 8.5 months vs some who take a full 10 months.

 

[fawnda]

Thanks for everyone chiming in on this! Sitting here with a batch of duck eggs on day 25 and I have a bunch of external pips! Glad to know this is probably ok