Early hatching

[Ryoohkey]

Has anyone had a constant early hatch and I don't mean by a day or 2 but by 4-5 days early my incubator is home made and works fantastically I have 2 thermostats in there one digital and one alcohol thermometer I first thought I was running it too high so I keep the temp on the digital one between 97-99 and the other is at 98-99, it's mainly my duck eggs that hatch early due date for this last batch was Saturday night but I had pipping start on Monday and today I have 4 new ducks they are welsh harliquin

 

[sumi]

I have had chicken eggs hatch early (day 18), but they were tiny, which could explain why. Duck eggs I'm not very familiar with, but @Lacrystol may be able to tell you more.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

According to this page: http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/Photos/Hiking/Birds/BirdPages/WelshHarlequin.htm That breed of duck's gestation period is 22-25 days, not the 28 days of other ducks.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Has anyone had a constant early hatch and I don't mean by a day or 2 but by 4-5 days early my incubator is home made and works fantastically I have 2 thermostats in there one digital and one alcohol thermometer I first thought I was running it too high so I keep the temp on the digital one between 97-99 and the other is at 98-99, it's mainly my duck eggs that hatch early due date for this last batch was Saturday night but I had pipping start on Monday and today I have 4 new ducks they are welsh harliquin

What gestation are you using to calculate expected hatch date? As pointed out above, the specific breed mentioned does have a shorter incubation period which could account for the perceived "early" hatch if one is using the more standard period most folks associate with duck incubation.

 

[Ryoohkey]

Y'all are right I've always thought it was 28 days for the harliquin

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Y'all are right I've always thought it was 28 days for the harliquin

So you have nothing to worry about!! Congrats on your little hatchers!!