- Jan 24, 2014
- 58
- 14
- 106
Hi all,
My almost-4-year-old and I are hatching Indian Runners at the moment - just 5 eggs. We're at day 28 today and ALL have pipped. We're used to hatching chicks, this is our first go at ducks.
We have one of those cheap 10-egg Chinese incubators - we have wet sponges in there to help the humidity get higher.
Egg 1: Pipped the right end - 26 hrs ago. Not much action. Occasionally rocks.
Egg 2: Pipped the right end - 20 hrs ago. Not much action.
Egg 3: Pipped the wrong end - 19 hrs ago. Has attempted unzipping. Has a hole big enough to breathe and little beak coming in and out and cheeping. The membrane is yellow/tan - looks super dry.
Egg 4: Pipped the right end - 19 hrs ago. Not much action.
Egg 5: Pipped the wrong end - 15 hrs ago. Doesn't seem to be much action and I don't know whether there is a hole through the membrane yet or not, as it's at a weird angle - pipped at the bottom on the wrong end, tucked in next to the water tray.
I'm not concerned about the ones that pipped the right end - I'm sure they'll work it out. Egg 3 I am concerned for because the membrane is yellow/tan and it's coming the wrong way. But I'm reluctant to open the bator, as I don't want to shrink-wrap the other ones who are pipping. We already lost one at Day 25 - so hoping we don't loose another.
When do I intervene with Egg 3? I'm trying to sit on my hands as much as possible! It's a hard task, hey?
I've had to assist a chick before, so I'm guessing the process is similar for ducks. The one I assisted was coming from the right end though.
Thanks for reading!
My almost-4-year-old and I are hatching Indian Runners at the moment - just 5 eggs. We're at day 28 today and ALL have pipped. We're used to hatching chicks, this is our first go at ducks.
We have one of those cheap 10-egg Chinese incubators - we have wet sponges in there to help the humidity get higher.
Egg 1: Pipped the right end - 26 hrs ago. Not much action. Occasionally rocks.
Egg 2: Pipped the right end - 20 hrs ago. Not much action.
Egg 3: Pipped the wrong end - 19 hrs ago. Has attempted unzipping. Has a hole big enough to breathe and little beak coming in and out and cheeping. The membrane is yellow/tan - looks super dry.
Egg 4: Pipped the right end - 19 hrs ago. Not much action.
Egg 5: Pipped the wrong end - 15 hrs ago. Doesn't seem to be much action and I don't know whether there is a hole through the membrane yet or not, as it's at a weird angle - pipped at the bottom on the wrong end, tucked in next to the water tray.
I'm not concerned about the ones that pipped the right end - I'm sure they'll work it out. Egg 3 I am concerned for because the membrane is yellow/tan and it's coming the wrong way. But I'm reluctant to open the bator, as I don't want to shrink-wrap the other ones who are pipping. We already lost one at Day 25 - so hoping we don't loose another.
When do I intervene with Egg 3? I'm trying to sit on my hands as much as possible! It's a hard task, hey?
I've had to assist a chick before, so I'm guessing the process is similar for ducks. The one I assisted was coming from the right end though.
Thanks for reading!