Duckling pipped on day 25...

[Jmiller89]

I have 9 duck eggs in the incubator, all were alive and well last night with no internal pips. Today is day 25 and I was going to raise humidity and set up incubator for hatch. Well when I opened up my small incubator the first one I pulled out had an external pip . I quickly set up the incubator and and put them back in. Humidity is hard to control in this thing and it’s at 77% right now. Was at 50% when I opened it this morning. I dropped the temp down by 1/2 degree and am wondering if I should drop lower. I’m upset I didn’t just set up the incubator last night for lockdown, I was concerned about keeping humidity up too long. Do you think the pipped duckling is going to get stuck because I opened and moved it?

 

[Jmiller89]

Now that I think about it. The pip was nearer to the pointy end of the egg. What does that mean?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Now that I think about it. The pip was nearer to the pointy end of the egg. What does that mean?

Could you take a photo of the pipped egg?
Do you have a calibrated therometer? What type of duck eggs are they? Are they calls by any chance ?

 

[Jmiller89]

Could you take a photo of the pipped egg?
Do you have a calibrated therometer? What type of duck eggs are they? Are they calls by any chance ?

I can try to get a picture but I’m not sure if you can see the pip from outside of the incubator. They are khaki Campbell eggs. I calibrated the thermometer in the late summer last year for a hatch so I probably should have done it again.

 

[Jmiller89]

Could you take a photo of the pipped egg?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Right on the pointy end, isnt it? Looks like the duckling is malpositioned, but don't panic, often they are still able to hatch safely.
I will link Assisted hatching article
It always helps to have a read of it, but keep in mind that ducklings can take longer than most other poultry, mine took a couple days!
Best to leave her be, see if she can do it herself, for now.

My best guess is that the incubator was running a little warmer than you thought, or that it has hot spots, where some eggs developed faster! It could still be a day or two before she's out, though.

 

[Jmiller89]

Right on the pointy end, isnt it? Looks like the duckling is malpositioned, but don't panic, often they are still able to hatch safely.
I will link Assisted hatching article
It always helps to have a read of it, but keep in mind that ducklings can take longer than most other poultry, mine took a couple days!
Best to leave her be, see if she can do it herself, for now.

My best guess is that the incubator was running a little warmer than you thought, or that it has hot spots, where some eggs developed faster! It could still be a day or two before she's out, though.

I do think it has hotspots and drafty spots. I tried shifting everyone around after their daily cool downs to help with this. I’ve also left the boarder to the turning tray in so that no one rolled to the drafty corners and ended up stuck in the eggs.

 

[Jmiller89]

Today is day 27 all eggs have now pipped, they pipped yesterday. I didn’t realize just how long it took for ducklings to hatch. The suspense in killing me! The one that pipped first and on the wrong end has hatched! Now I’m thinking the temp was good during Incubation since everyone looks like they will be coming out today or tomorrow. Is that correct or do they usually make the first external pip on the 28th day?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Today is day 27 all eggs have now pipped, they pipped yesterday. I didn’t realize just how long it took for ducklings to hatch. The suspense in killing me! The one that pipped first and on the wrong end has hatched! Now I’m thinking the temp was good during Incubation since everyone looks like they will be coming out today or tomorrow. Is that correct or do they usually make the first external pip on the 28th day?

congrats on your first hatch!!!
It can vary a little bit, but it sounds like everything is going in the right direction!

 

[Knighstar679]

sounds good to go. Congratulations on your baby