Ducks chirping but too early…a few questions

[SelfSufficientMe]

My welsh harlequin and welsh harlequin khaki crosses are due to hatch Sunday 2/25. I checked them on 2/17 and 27 out of 28 were moving but the air cells were not quite as big as they should be so I dropped humidity down by removing water. I thought for sure I’d have plenty of time to lose some water before they went into lockdown. Well I checked a few tonight to see if there had been any progress and I saw shadowing. I took all of the eggs out and removed the turner. I didn’t plan on that until 2/22. While I was removing the eggs I heard chirping in a few. I laid them on their sides properly so now I wait.

I’m unsure how long the ones chirping have been pipped. I’ve only done one other hatch and it was with a crummy, cheap incubator. I do not want a repeat of dead birds.

Should I increase humidity even though air cells aren’t quite where I want them? They’re pretty close though so may be okay. I’ve seen conflicting images online. I don’t want to chance shrinking air cells on eggs that may not be ready.

Perhaps the temperature was uneven throughout the incubator bc not all are shadowing or pipped. Is it highly likely that the ones that may hatch early won’t make it?

Am I safe to assume if there are still live pipped eggs in the morning that I should make air holes?

I don’t want to intervene too soon but I also don’t want to lose ducks. Tough decision.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[SelfSufficientMe]

Did you see the actual beak in the air cell or just shadowing along the lower side of the air cell pushing the membrane ?
If the babies beak is inside the air cell you need to bump the humidity up now so if they do external pip they won’t be in trouble
The baby usually shadows pushing on the membrane along the air cell for 24-48 hours before the internal pip
The air cell will grow really fast within that time
As for times I have had babies hatch anywhere from day 24 to day 30
and he just fine

One has arrived

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

My welsh harlequin and welsh harlequin khaki crosses are due to hatch Sunday 2/25. I checked them on 2/17 and 27 out of 28 were moving but the air cells were not quite as big as they should be so I dropped humidity down by removing water. I thought for sure I’d have plenty of time to lose some water before they went into lockdown. Well I checked a few tonight to see if there had been any progress and I saw shadowing. I took all of the eggs out and removed the turner. I didn’t plan on that until 2/22. While I was removing the eggs I heard chirping in a few. I laid them on their sides properly so now I wait.

I’m unsure how long the ones chirping have been pipped. I’ve only done one other hatch and it was with a crummy, cheap incubator. I do not want a repeat of dead birds.

Should I increase humidity even though air cells aren’t quite where I want them? They’re pretty close though so may be okay. I’ve seen conflicting images online. I don’t want to chance shrinking air cells on eggs that may not be ready.

Perhaps the temperature was uneven throughout the incubator bc not all are shadowing or pipped. Is it highly likely that the ones that may hatch early won’t make it?

Am I safe to assume if there are still live pipped eggs in the morning that I should make air holes?

I don’t want to intervene too soon but I also don’t want to lose ducks. Tough decision.

Thanks for any advice.

Did you see the actual beak in the air cell or just shadowing along the lower side of the air cell pushing the membrane ?
If the babies beak is inside the air cell you need to bump the humidity up now so if they do external pip they won’t be in trouble
The baby usually shadows pushing on the membrane along the air cell for 24-48 hours before the internal pip
The air cell will grow really fast within that time
As for times I have had babies hatch anywhere from day 24 to day 30
and he just fine

 

[SelfSufficientMe]

They’ve started

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congrats!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congrats!

@New duck mommy 2021

 

[Fawkes]

Glad they're making their way out safely! I'm always amazed these tiny little guys can manage it. Duck egg shells are so tough lol. I'm sure the egg tooth helps a lot, but still.

 

[SelfSufficientMe]

So precious!!

I hope to get some cute pics of them but for now just brooder pics Final count of 15. If the sexing by the beak method holds true with welsh harlequins then I have 7 boys and 7 girls. I have them separated for now so their new owners can differentiate. The dark duckling is an unknown. I set mixed eggs and purebred eggs but it looks like only one mix egg hatched. Assuming that one is a mix which I’m pretty sure it is. I’m going to post a genetics question about my dark duckling separately

 

[SelfSufficientMe]

The higher heat will have pushed for faster growth and can be why it’s a bit earlier hatching
I run 45 % humidity for incubating and 65-75 for hatching
I personally like 70 % and as they hatch it jumps it up higher ( that’s totally okay )
For future hatches run 99.5 for heat
Moving the eggs around the bator once a day makes sure any cold or hot spots aren’t used by the same few eggs
Also At the 2 week mark is best to adjust humidity for air cells
If I need mine larger I will drop to 35% if I need them to slow down I will go 55%
It’s not to drastic where is shocks the egg but enough to help adjust air cells
You are correct in not moving the eggs to candle once in lockdown
( many make this mistake )
Leave them as is and move the candler instead
This way baby doesn’t get moved around and confused
Keep us updated
Remember ducklings take a long time to hatch
48-72 from first getting in the air cell

Great advice! I hope to hatch many, many ducks. My first hatch scared me but I’m past that. I have more eggs than I know what to do with so I may as well hatch them. This hatch is a 4H project for my 5 y/o son but I enjoy it more than he does.

I left work (early lunch lol) to run home and add water. Heading back now. For safety measures and bc I’m antsy/nosey I set up the camera that I use to watch my dogs Maybe a bit overboard but at least I have peace of mind. Pay no mind to the pencil marks. That was the first day that I checked on them and I marked what I thought was the air cell and I was completely wrong lol.

 

[SelfSufficientMe]

Thank you. Not sleeping much tonight. Three out now and two more very soon! The others are taking their sweet time.