has this ever happened to you?????????

[Taylor]

ok, this is my very first time hatching duck eggs and the other day I noticed peck holes on the eggs and they all hatched today, is it normal for them to peck holes in the egg a few days before they hatch????? I really want to know!!!!!!!

 

[ranchhand]

Chances are those are "pips", both ducks and chickens do it before they start a pecked line across the egg, which is called "zipping". All in preparation to hatching.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Completely normal. the duckling will first through the inner membrane of the egg- It then has a bit more room to move around with the added speace of the air cell. Next comes the first crack in the egg shell. I find it takes an average of 24 hours after that first pip - for them to start turning in the egg and pecking holes as they turn, tahts the unzipping. Once they have cracked around the whole egg- they push their way out
of the egg.