Ducks eggs on day 29!

[bacres]

I have 5 Eggs in the incubator and its day 29 and no pipping. They all grew wonderfully, but did I do somthing wrong that they will not hatch? I have 3 Call duck eggs and 2 Khaki Campbells. Is it normal for them to hatch late?

 

[TennesseeTruly]

They can hatch late if your temps were running low. Don't fret yet.

Laurie

 

[bacres]

I feel a little better now but I hope they hatch because last time I had eggs this far they all died, but they were all calls. I figured since calls are so hard to hatch that maybe the khaki campbells would be alot easier. Was I mistaken?

 

[Scott]

Have you candled them recently? Any sound or movement? The khaki duck eggs usually take 28 days, but like TrulyTennessee mentioned it can sometime take a day or so longer if your temps were too low. The call duck eggs, however, usually hatch in 26 to 27 days. I had a clutch of BEIs that did the same last year... they developed the entire incubation period, but died right before hatch.

 

[Scott]

Did you use auto-turning? And if so, does the turner keep the eggs upright or on their side. Duck eggs really need to be rotated on their side for optimum hatch rates.

 

[bacres]

I new to the whole egg candling thing. I can tell theres a baby inside but Im afriad if I take them out they will died because there out of the heating and humidity and my friend told me not to mess with them because they need the humidity. So should I candle them and see if I see movment? Like would it be obivous or like slight movements?

 

[Scott]

Quote:
Your friend is right that you should open the incubator as little as possible during the last few days. At this point, however, I personally would candle them to try to get an idea of what is going on. Ultimately, its a call you will have to make. If you do candle them, you need to be looking to see if they have broken through the air cell. Often times you can see the beak moving in that space. Or you can hear them peeping. If you don't it doesnt necessarily mean they have died as they could be resting. But at this point, you should have already had a pip with the call duck eggs at least.

What was your temp during incubation? What was your humidity? Any major fluctuations? Did you loose power at any point? Did you use an auto-turner?

 

[bacres]

Temp was 99 to 100 at all times, I made sure that they water rings were filled with water everyday. I cooled them and spayed them too. I have an auto turner and its upright. Did the turner kill them?

 

[Scott]

Quote:
I can't know for sure. However, I am convinced that duck eggs should be turned on their sides for best hatch rates. The following quote is from Acorn Hollow Bantams:

Q. I am having very poor hatches of duck eggs in my classroom incubator. It is a forced air styrofoam machine with an automatic turner.

A. Assuming that you have the temperature set properly and are providing the proper amount of moisture for the eggs, the problem is almost surely the use of the automatic turning device. Such turners do not rotate the eggs from one side to the opposite side. Neither do they position the eggs properly for waterfowl, which is on their sides. Lay the eggs on their sides and hand turn the eggs 180 degrees at lest twice each day and your hatches should improve. You will probably have to remove the turning device in order to do that. All of the above information applies equally as well to goose eggs.

You might also want to check out this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=306686​

 

[bacres]

I've also read that you should turn they eggs an odd number each day or should I do what that thread said. Twice a day. Now I have about 25 other duck eggs that are in the turner is it too late for them. Aboout 8 are susposed to hatch on the 18th thats the earlest that some are hatching? Should I take out the turner and turn them by hand? Would they hatch then?