Duck eggs soon to hatch?

[Jpat]

Also do you just lay your own thermometer in there? And us putting 100 ml of water at the bottom sufficient?

i have the same incubator and the built in thermometer was dead on, But alot of others say their numbers are off, so yeah put your thermometer in too so you can compare the numbers
100ml of water will be gone by morning, ide out 200ml in and keep watching the thermomter and humidity gauge

 

[MGG]

First of all, is there any way you could put some grippy help liner or something on the bottom? That is so when they hatch their legs don't slide apart because then they can get splayed leg. 100 ml always raises my humidity really fast and then makes it drop when it runs out, so I just do a clear cup I can see from the outside of the incubator. To take the lid off without unplugging it, just take the lid off and set it aside still plugged in. Thats what I do. Wrap a blanket around the 3 sides of the incubator to keep them stable, otherwise it fluctuates a lot. Leave the front unwrapped so you can still look in. Definitely try to get the thermometer in there. Try to get it where you can see it with ought taking the lid off. You can also put your hand on the back of the incubator and hold the lid on, and tip the front of the lid a bit to look in and check temp or whatever. Then the temp and humidity don't drop as much. Ok I think I covered it all. I'm here for questions. I love that incubator

 

[Laurenfinn6]

i have the same incubator and the built in thermometer was dead on, But alot of others say their numbers are off, so yeah put your thermometer in too so you can compare the numbers
100ml of water will be gone by morning, ide out 200ml in and keep watching the thermomter and humidity gauge

Okay I will add more water thank you so much!!!

 

[Laurenfinn6]

First of all, is there any way you could put some grippy help liner or something on the bottom? That is so when they hatch their legs don't slide apart because then they can get splayed leg. 100 ml always raises my humidity really fast and then makes it drop when it runs out, so I just do a clear cup I can see from the outside of the incubator. To take the lid off without unplugging it, just take the lid off and set it aside still plugged in. Thats what I do. Wrap a blanket around the 3 sides of the incubator to keep them stable, otherwise it fluctuates a lot. Leave the front unwrapped so you can still look in. Definitely try to get the thermometer in there. Try to get it where you can see it with ought taking the lid off. You can also put your hand on the back of the incubator and hold the lid on, and tip the front of the lid a bit to look in and check temp or whatever. Then the temp and humidity don't drop as much. Ok I think I covered it all. I'm here for questions. I love that incubator

Thank you for all of the detailed information. Hoping they still have a chance. Felt like I handled them too much last night (I’m a worry wart). Could I lay a cloth at the bottom?

 

[MGG]

Do you have an old one you can put a bunch of holes in for ventilation? Make it honey enough that a lot of air can circulate, but small enough holes that the babies can be on the rag. I'm guessing you could do the same with a paper towel or something, but a real towel would be better. Towels with no holes don't provide enough air, there's a reason there are holes in the bottom of your tray. I hope your babies make it!

 

[MGG]

Also, handling eggs as long as your hands are clean isn't a big deal as long as you don't rub them a whole bunch. I mean, they wouldn't even be alive right now if it wasn't for you. You're doing a great thing. They already have lived much longer then they would have, and they have a shot at life if it weren't for you. Even if they don't make it (which I really think some will) they have been loved very much. Keep doing what you're doing, you are doing great! Keep the updates coming

 

[Laurenfinn6]

Thank you for all of the detailed information. Hoping they still have a chance. Felt like I handled them too much last night (I’m a worry wart). Could I lay a cloth at the bottom?

Do you have an old one you can put a bunch of holes in for ventilation? Make it honey enough that a lot of air can circulate, but small enough holes that the babies can be on the rag. I'm guessing you could do the same with a paper towel or something, but a real towel would be better. Towels with no holes don't provide enough air, there's a reason there are holes in the bottom of your tray. I hope your babies make it!

thank you so much for all of your advice. I think I have everything just how it needs to be. Using a paper towel with holes and have the thermometer in there. Thank you

 

[Laurenfinn6]

Also, handling eggs as long as your hands are clean isn't a big deal as long as you don't rub them a whole bunch. I mean, they wouldn't even be alive right now if it wasn't for you. You're doing a great thing. They already have lived much longer then they would have, and they have a shot at life if it weren't for you. Even if they don't make it (which I really think some will) they have been loved very much. Keep doing what you're doing, you are doing great! Keep the updates coming

Aw thank you so much for your kind words. That really means a lot and has made me feel so much better about everything. Now I believe we just wait. Thank you again and I will be sure to keep everyone updated. I’m sure I’ll have questions in the meantime haha!

 

[Isaac 0]

Any Pips?

 

[WVduckchick]

So sorry you lost your hen, but great job rescuing the eggs. I’m on my phone, but most of the egg pics look pretty good, so I think you will have some babies soon!

You’ve received a lot of good help already, I’ll just add a couple things I haven’t seen mentioned. Muscovies take longer than mallard derives ducks. Muscovies take about 35 days to hatch. I didn’t calculate your days (sorry) so just keep that in mind.

Around 2-4 days before they hatch, the air cell will “draw down” as the duckling gets into final hatching position. That’s when you know it’s getting close. The air cell will change shape. Shortly after that, they should internally pip. So watch for the draw down, especially since you don’t know the exact incubation dates.
Here’s what it looks like, from one day to the next. See how the shape of the air cells changed. That’s the duckling scooting further into the fat end of the egg to pip into the air cell. Best of luck!!!