Hatching Duck eggs

[christine911]

First time incubating Duck eggs. I have two Pekin Duck eggs that are in the incubator today was suppose to be lockdown day. I took the lid of the incubator this morning to do last candling and notice that they started pipping already. I had to pick them up to take the grid and turner out. Did I mess up by picking them up? I read that you shouldn't move them once they start pipping? I'm afraid I did something to them?! They humidity is 82% is that to high?? Please help

 

[Isaac 0]

First time incubating Duck eggs. I have two Pekin Duck eggs that are in the incubator today was suppose to be lockdown day. I took the lid of the incubator this morning to do last candling and notice that they started pipping already. I had to pick them up to take the grid and turner out. Did I mess up by picking them up? I read that you shouldn't move them once they start pipping? I'm afraid I did something to them?! They humidity is 82% is that to high?? Please help

Picking the egg up once is not going to hurt anything, constantly opening the incubator and candling during lockdown (Like me ) will decrease humidity and may cause a dry hatch, If you are not able to get the humidity back up to where it was, repeatedly picking the eggs up may also disorient the duckling cause it to pip in an incorrect position.

80% seems too high, I aim between 60-70% percent.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

First time incubating Duck eggs. I have two Pekin Duck eggs that are in the incubator today was suppose to be lockdown day. I took the lid of the incubator this morning to do last candling and notice that they started pipping already. I had to pick them up to take the grid and turner out. Did I mess up by picking them up? I read that you shouldn't move them once they start pipping? I'm afraid I did something to them?! They humidity is 82% is that to high?? Please help

They're fine. Ducks take a long time from pip to zip so be aware of that. But I'm sure you did them no harm at all.

 

[christine911]

Picking the egg up once is not going to hurt anything, constantly opening the incubator and candling during lockdown (Like me ) will decrease humidity and may cause a dry hatch, If you are not able to get the humidity back up to where it was, repeatedly picking the eggs up may also disorient the duckling cause it to pip in an incorrect position.

80% seems too high, I aim between 60-70% percent.

The only way to lower humidity is to take some of the water out?

 

[christine911]

They're fine. Ducks take a long time from pip to zip so be aware of that. But I'm sure you did them no harm at all.

Thank you I have been so worried

 

[Isaac 0]

The only way to lower humidity is to take some of the water out?

I take the lid off for a minute or so, usually brings it back down quite a bit.

 

[christine911]

Thank you to everyone!! They both hatched today