First timer, duck eggs nearly due

[GrannySue]

Okay folks, this is my first time hatching. Talk me through this, please.

6 runner eggs, have been in a forced air Hovabator for 24 days.
I candled them a couple of nights ago - 4 seem to look exactly like they should, other 2 are questionable.

So now I stop turning, right? 3 days before expected hatch?
What about humidity? I don't have a hygrometer, have just been eyeballing the window for condensation. There's water in the tray right now.

Oh sorry, I'm babbling.

Hold my hand.

 

[77horses]

I'm really not sure, because I've never had any experience with duck eggs.

But here's a BUMP! so maybe someone else will know.

Good luck and

 

[mamanaturale]

yes stop turning now. i dont know what to tell you about the humidity... i had a hygrometer in mine and i still had trouble with the humidity. how do your air cells look? remember that ducks can take a while from pip to hatch, like 2-3 days for mine. when i raised my humidity to what it should be, there was a bit of condensation around the edges of the window. hth!

 

[GrannySue]

Well, this is weird. Part of my morning routine for the last 3+ weeks has been to turn the eggs while the coffee brews.
It just feels wrong to be leaving them alone!
Confession;
Many years ago when I joined BYC with my Exotic ISA Browns (heh) I almost thought you incubating people were a bit over the top! I mean, seriously, who in their right mind would fuss so much over a few eggs? Um, me, that's who.

 

[GrannySue]

Yet another question;
Most duck books, articles, etc say 27/28 days to hatch.
Does that mean 27/28 days to first pip?

Hey, be nice, everyone has to start somewhere.

 

[mamanaturale]

my only experience is with bantam duck eggs, which say 26 days. mine started pipping on 26 and were hatched by 28.

 

[pbjmaker]

I hope you get some good information. I have some eggs due in about 10 days. Mine are flying mallard/rouen mix.

 

[froggie71]

We hatched our 1st duck eggs on May 12th/13th. 28 days is how long they should take, ours more like 30 since temp was low. I did end up getting thermometer/hygrometer from walmart like 3/4 way through incubation. My DS religiously turned the eggs twice a day for 25 days and added water when the troughs were empty(before hygrometer and as needed after) Either we just had great luck or the ducks aren't that hard to hatch because with doing everything wrong we got a 100% hatch. Try to be very patient. They can take a long time to hatch once pipping. Even 2 days long. DH thought he needed to help the 1st guy who came out, and he ended up with yolk sac still attached and had awhile left to still absorb. He ended up being fine, but I'm glad he was 1st so the others couldn't bother him. Good luck ! It's amazing to watch!

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

I hatched ducks on Monday! For the first 25 days I kept humidity around 40-50%. I stopped turning and upped the humidity on day 25 (last Saturday). Sunday mid-morning all 8 eggs pipped. I read that it would take 24 hours for them to befin zipping. Sure enough, Monday morning all had double pips (the beginning of a zip). I got home from work at 2 p.m. and had 2 ducklings. All were hatched by 7 p.m. that evening.

Good luck!