First time incubater 😊

[Geraldsfamily]

Hi again! Sorry for not adding any candling pictures, I’ve been too nervous to do anything but super secure on the spot candling since the accident but the remaining two last night were both moving and it looked like they were trying to poke up against the membrane!
Not internally pipped but definitely getting ready I think!
I’ve just removed the turner and they’ve just gone into lockdown for the last 3 days so I’m keeping everything crossed
Any tips?
I’ve put the temp down to 36.5 and upped the humidity to the late 70’s.
I’m lucky I have a little vent hole that I’m able to get a straw into and onto a little dish I’ve put underneath and I’m going to use that to top up the water level so I don’t need to open it at all.
when should I start seeing pips?
I’ve also heard that playing cheeping noises may encourage them and was wondering if chicken chick cheeps would be ok?

 

[Crazy Duck Lover]

I’ve put the temp down to 36.5 and upped the humidity to the late 70’s.

Hey! I would raise your temperature back up to 99.0 or 37 celsius. The only thing lowering your temp really does is slow down the hatch. What do you mean by late 70s? I would have it at 75 MAX.

when should I start seeing pips?

For ducks, anywhere between day 27-30. I’ve had some pip on day 30 and hatch perfectly fine.

chick cheeps would be ok

Yes! I play cheeping for my ducklings! It’s hard to find duckling chirping so yes, chick is fine.

Well I can’t believe it’s already time for them to hatch! Remember, stay calm, do something to distract yourself for a little on hatch day. Ducklings take FOREVER to hatch! Remember, a watched pot never boils. Once you see a pip I would go turn on your brooder heat source that way it’s warm whenever the duckling hatches.

Good luck and post tons of duckling pictures!

 

[Geraldsfamily]

Thank you! Temp and humidity adjusted accordingly, I had the humidity at about 78% as I’d read between 75-80 for lockdown!
Ahh I’m so excited! I’m also very nervous though, I know it’s silly but I can’t stop worrying, what if I’ve not done things right and they don’t hatch! I have my fingers (and toes.... and everything else) crossed!
Thank you I’ve been playing them a bit today but I think it’s still a bit too early yet, I can’t stop looking through to see if I can see any movement or anything! One egg has slightly moved but I’m not sure if it’s done it itself or if perhaps now they’re out of the turner they are bound to move a little and it’s not the duckling that’s done it?!
I will definitely need the distractions or I won’t leave their side!
If we get our hatches there will be many many pictures shared
Thank you so much for your help and advice and conversation through our first incubation, I’m very grateful

 

[Crazy Duck Lover]

Thank you! Temp and humidity adjusted accordingly, I had the humidity at about 78% as I’d read between 75-80 for lockdown!
Ahh I’m so excited! I’m also very nervous though, I know it’s silly but I can’t stop worrying, what if I’ve not done things right and they don’t hatch! I have my fingers (and toes.... and everything else) crossed!
Thank you I’ve been playing them a bit today but I think it’s still a bit too early yet, I can’t stop looking through to see if I can see any movement or anything! One egg has slightly moved but I’m not sure if it’s done it itself or if perhaps now they’re out of the turner they are bound to move a little and it’s not the duckling that’s done it?!
I will definitely need the distractions or I won’t leave their side!
If we get our hatches there will be many many pictures shared
Thank you so much for your help and advice and conversation through our first incubation, I’m very grateful

Your very welcome I’ll cross everything hoping they both hatch!

 

[Geraldsfamily]

They’re both rocking in the incubator! I can’t stop watching! I should be getting to sleep but I’m too eggcited
Does this mean they’ll externally pip soon? I worried earlier this evening but I had a quick peeky candle and both had movement followed by the rocking now!
I’m keeping everything crossed that they’re close and will be healthy hatches

 

[Crazy Duck Lover]

They’re both rocking in the incubator! I can’t stop watching! I should be getting to sleep but I’m too eggcited
Does this mean they’ll externally pip soon? I worried earlier this evening but I had a quick peeky candle and both had movement followed by the rocking now!
I’m keeping everything crossed that they’re close and will be healthy hatches

Yay! I can’t wait for pics! The rocking means they’re turning in the egg getting prepared to internally pip, then externally pip, zip, then hatch!

 

[Geraldsfamily]

I guess I’m just feeling a bit impatient! I think it’s through anxiety that they won’t hatch but all we can do now is wait and hope I will post pictures as soon as anything happens! For now here’s a candling from 3 weeks ago, I wish I’d pictured more as it went along but the accident got me too nervous!

 

[Geraldsfamily]

Little duckling 3 weeks ago

 

[Crazy Duck Lover]

Haha yeah! With my hatches in April I sat and stared at the incubator for hours and hours hoping to see something but as soon as I left home for a few hours, my sister called me and said there were ducklings in the incubator!

 

[Geraldsfamily]

What an amazing surprise to come home to!
I have a dilemma, hoping you may be able to advise.
Today we’ve had active rocking eggs but still no external pip. This evening they’re still!
I thought tomorrow was hatch day but I forgot you don’t count the day you put them in so actually I think it’s Thursday?!
Should I make air holes or just leave them?
And also as there are no external pips would it be ok if I opened the incubator to candle them or would that be to dangerous?