Ducklings internally pipping then dying before they externally pip?

[Breemae123]

I have one nest that was pretty big (~20). Last two days I go out there and she had a few eggs kicked out of the nest. I candle them and I can see that many internally pipped but then died.

Why are they dying before they fully hatch? They eat all-natural feed 16% protein lay pellets (other than the fresh vegetables they get). I read if they have too much protein it can make it hard for them to hatch.

Is 16% protein feed too much?

 

[casportpony]

I have one nest that was pretty big (~20). Last two days I go out there and she had a few eggs kicked out of the nest. I candle them and I can see that many internally pipped but then died.

Why are they dying before they fully hatch? They eat all-natural feed 16% protein lay pellets (other than the fresh vegetables they get). I read if they have too much protein it can make it hard for them to hatch.

Is 16% protein feed too much?

Maybe no reason at all except that they got knocked out of the nest, which can happen when they are trying to cover too many eggs.

 

[CayugaJana]

Is this her first laying year?

 

[Breemae123]

Is this her first laying year?

Yeah, she is only about 10 months old.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I have one nest that was pretty big (~20). Last two days I go out there and she had a few eggs kicked out of the nest. I candle them and I can see that many internally pipped but then died.

Why are they dying before they fully hatch? They eat all-natural feed 16% protein lay pellets (other than the fresh vegetables they get). I read if they have too much protein it can make it hard for them to hatch.

Is 16% protein feed too much?

That doesn't sound too high to me. I feed 18%
What kind of ducks do you have? And I agree with casportpony, its probably hard for her to cover and keep that many eggs under her.

 

[CayugaJana]

I’ll just share my recent experience. I incubated some of the first eggs my cayugas made. All 16 were fertile, however a lot of them died while internally pipping. They were too big for the small and brand new egg shells (the eggs get bigger as the season goes along).
They couldn’t get into the proper position to finish. It was so sad. Had I known, I would have waited.

But I agree 20 eggs is a lot. Wowee....

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I’ll just share my recent experience. I incubated some of the first eggs my cayugas made. All 16 were fertile, however a lot of them died while internally pipping. They were too big for the small and brand new egg shells (the eggs get bigger as the season goes along).
They couldn’t get into the proper position to finish. It was so sad. Had I known, I would have waited.

But I agree 20 eggs is a lot. Wowee....

Very good point. I didn't realise that either about the egg shell size.
Makes perfect sense.

 

[Breemae123]

That doesn't sound too high to me. I feed 18%
What kind of ducks do you have? And I agree with casportpony, its probably hard for her to cover and keep that many eggs under her.

They are Muscovy ducks.

 

[chickens really]

Feed isn't the problem..Her lack of experience is what caused the problem. Not enough moisture left the eggs so the air cells didn't get big enough and they drowned.
Next year she should do better hatching and give her less eggs..

 

[Breemae123]

Feed isn't the problem..Her lack of experience is what caused the problem. Not enough moisture left the eggs so the air cells didn't get big enough and they drowned.
Next year she should do better hatching and give her less eggs..

Right. We had large nests. It’s my first time, too. Already decided we would take some if they have this many again.