Duck Incubation time.. (first timers)

[GeoGreyWolf]

Its so exciting to be getting so close!! I go into lockdown on sat night..... grey wolf I hope that your hatch goes really well for you!

thank you, i hope yours goes well for you also.

 

[aliciaplus3]

as of last night I still have 8 duck eggs going strong!

 

[Eagle Flight Farm]

I sat our Ancona duck eggs in our incubator just about 30 min. ago. I trimmed away at an egg carton, leaving just enough to hold the eggs upright, but with air holes in every possible place ... just enough left to keep the eggs steady in the upright position. We have 5 pale green eggs and 3 white eggs. We only ordered 4, but the breeder sent us 8! I will update as we make progress. Since all of the eggs had air cells in the correct position, but each also had a portion of the membrane pulled away from the inside of the shell at the top ... which appeared as a big bubble that would move around the top of each stationary air cell, thus the reason we are at least beginning the incubation with the eggs in the upright position with the big end pointing up. I will tilt them slilghtly several times each 24 hr. period. Well, here we go!

 

[GeoGreyWolf]

@Pyxis @chickens really @casportpony @Ravynscroft @Miss Lydia
Well its day 27 and I shined the flashlight through the 4 viewing holes at the top. I do not see any pips, moving or hear anything. Could be me being nervous. Should I or can I try and take them out quickly and candle to see if there is pip action? Or should I leave them alone since they are in lockdown and hope for the best?

 

[Ravynscroft]

@Pyxis @chickens really @casportpony @Ravynscroft @Miss Lydia
Well its day 27 and I shined the flashlight through the 4 viewing holes at the top. I do not see any pips, moving or hear anything. Could be me being nervous. Should I or can I try and take them out quickly and candle to see if there is pip action? Or should I leave them alone since they are in lockdown and hope for the best?

Myself, I would go ahead and candle them to check for drawdown and/or internal pips.... not gonna hurt anything, especially with none external pipped...

 

[GeoGreyWolf]

Myself, I would go ahead and candle them to check for drawdown and/or internal pips.... not gonna hurt anything, especially with none external pipped...

Thank you, well i went and checked and i think all three are dead. No movement in them, nothing looking like a head or anything at the top. I also checked the 2 that were set 8 days later, one of those is gone it seems, just a blob inside and no veins. The other has veins and is moving like crazy. Pictures are of the outside of the 3 due to hatch tomorrow they all seem to have darkened except the air sac area o a grayish blue?.. candle pictures of them you cant see anything egg is full dark except the air sac. The other picture is of the one that is due in 8-9 days that i believe is a quitter.

 

[chickens really]

Sorry for the losses..Hope that other one survives..What's the Humidity at and Candle from the fat end of the egg, not the pointy end..The air cells were too small so possibly the humidity is too high...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sad for you and your dd,
sure hope that lively one will make it to hatch.

 

[CayugaJana]

I’m so sorry Geo.... at least you guys have all spring and summer to try. I’m glad you have something you and your daughter have an interest in and can share.

 

[GeoGreyWolf]

Sorry for the losses..Hope that other one survives..What's the Humidity at and Candle from the fat end of the egg, not the pointy end..The air cells were too small so possibly the humidity is too high...

My humidity stayed around 30-40 with a couple times when I added water in the mid 40's. I just upped the humidity for the three due to hatch and its in the high 70's to 80.

Thank you all for the kind words, I guess i should try and open the eggs up to see what happened, I am squeamish to blood so hope not much of that there. Also since my daughter wont be home till tomorrow, i might see if any stores have some ducklings and play it off like they hatched if they have some. This does make me wonder if my lame Pekin has bad genetics. Or if I did something wrong.