Hatching Duck Eggs in a Suro: Day 31 and WRAP-UP

[Brickman House]

DAY 28, HATCHING UPDATE: Well, we have another Pekin almost out! He's popped the top of his shell, and is now working his way out of the bottom.

On another note, it was a good thing I asked Annarie about opening the incubator, because not long after, I heard a horrible grinding coming from the incubator. I looked over, and both ducklings had wedged themselves on top of the eggs under the fan. Don't know what was making the grinding sound, but I opened the incubator, pulled them out, and popped the top back on. Temperature and humidity was back to 99.5 F and 70+% instantaneously, and the grinding noise stopped. Don't know if air flow was blocked, or what, but the ducklings are perfectly unharmed, and are upstairs in my bathtub brooder.

Now, back to waiting on the rest!

 

[Brickman House]

DAY 29: Came home this afternoon to SIX more ducklings out and one pushing its way out, which makes 10 ducklings total so far! There are three more looking like they're actively working their way out, and are pretty close!

This hatch is running a bit longer, I think, than I would have expected. I didn't calibrate the temperature or humidity of the incubator, so that may be a factor. I've ordered a Brinsea Spot Check, so when that comes in, I'll check it against the display temperature read out, and adjust accordingly. Can't complain too much, though, because the ducklings that have hatched out look perfect, and are doing well, so at least thus far, no permanent harm done.

Also, although the recommendation here is not to open the incubator until the hatch is done, that DEFINITELY wouldn't work for me! Maybe I'm doing something wrong with my set up, but there is no way 17 hatched ducklings would fit in the Suro. We came home to 6 new hatchlings, and the incubator was PACKED. So we've been pulling them out periodically, and putting them in our bathtub brooder set up:

All we've done is open the incubator lid for 15 seconds, pull out what's hatched, and put the lid right back on. Temperature and humidity return to normal levels almost instantaneously, so I think we'll be okay with it.

 

[bel]

Congrats on the cute little ducklings!!

My guess is that grinding noise was probably the humidity pad clips being pushed up into the fan by the ducklings. Glad your hatch is doing well.

 

[mitch324]

I love the brooder!!!

 

[Sweetfolly]

Congrats on all your little ducklings!

My last duckling is finally out - I had to help him, because he had one of his wee little feet curled over his face. He's still all wet and resting in the incubator right now, but I'll try to post a picture tomorrow!

 

[stumble_n_mumble]

lock down was supposed to be today at 5pm so tonight (its now midnight) i went out to have one last peek and one of my runner eggs are pipping!!! im so excited! i dont think ill be able to sleep!!! ahh!!!!!!! lol

 

[Sweetfolly]

Quote:
I've barely slept the last three days while mine were hatching!

And I'm expecting hatches every week in April!

 

[cqnguyen]

Congrats! I can't wait to get my King Suro

and try my luck hatching ducklings!

 

[Brickman House]

DAY 30: Well, believe it or not, we are STILL hatching. So far, we have 14 total out, all healthy, well formed, and having a grand old time making a mess of our bathtub. Of the three eggs left in the incubator, two have pips, so we won't give up on them yet, but I don't know. . . this seems awful late.

 

[Sweetfolly]

Don't give up on the slowpokes!

Here's my little guy that I had to help out of the shell last night, a full 48 hours after all his siblings were done hatching: