Duck eggs pipping...too early?

[OzarkCountryGirl]

I have Welsh Harlequin duck eggs in my home made 'bator that are due to hatch on the 23rd. However they are pipping now!

Two eggs so far have cracks and every so often the eggs jump and the cracks get a little bit bigger.

I'm worried about the humidity as it's only been between 45-50% on any given day and while I've tried to increase it with sponges soaking wet in a tray of water (have 3 sponges in there now), it just won't get any higher.

So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything all works out in the end....

My daughter and I are going stay up until they hatch. But that's ok...we are used to staying up all hours when our Fainting goats have their babies. : )

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
I usually figure they know the best time to get out

Come on over to the "who's hatching ducks, hatch with us" thread, lots of great advice there - it's an ongoing thread it seems, it has a life of it's own, now. (in this section, just up a little higher in the listings)

I'm currently watching geese eggs pipped (well one pipped so far).

My humidity isn't a problem, and I'm not very experienced at duck hatching, but a lot of folks there are - you'll get a quick answer.

meri

 

[cici_p]

I saw someone post not too long ago that their duck eggs hatched 5 days early. . . so maybe ducks aren't as predictable as chickens.

Edited to say: I sure hope my duck and goose eggs hatch early!

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

Mojo Chick'n :

I'm currently watching geese eggs pipped (well one pipped so far).
meri

Wonderful! But isn't this waiting the hardest part?!

Headed over to the "hatching ducks thread" now.....

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

Quote:
5 days? Wow...I thought mine were early at 3...not that I'm complaining.

What kind of ducks and geese are you hatching?