Hatching ducks

[DerekBennison]

So I am new to ducks but been hatching poultry for awhile now. Not sure about what’s happening. I have several adult ducks and collected eggs from them for a week. I put them in the incubator and followed instructions. Tomorrow is to be lock down day 24 has I open the incubator this evening to turn egg I hear peep and long down to find six eggs starting to pipe. Quickly shut and hope for the best but ? Is why day 23-24 and not day 28. Hope they make it out. Seems to be a lot of peeping in there. And advice would be great. Thanks.

 

[PP Calls]

The temperature may be high. What did you set the temperature at? And is your incubator still air or forced air?

 

[sylviethecochin]

x2, but also:

Pipping now, as I can say from experience, does not mean hatching now. I commonly have duck eggs brooded under mum taking more than 36 hours to hatch, beginning count at exterior pip.

It sounds like they're a little early, but I wouldn't be too worried for now.

 

[Pyxis]

I agree. Also, did you calibrate the thermometers you were using so you know for sure they were accurate?

Since it seems like you have a pip you'll want to be boosting the humidity for lockdown now too.

 

[DerekBennison]

Still air
Turned 3 times a day
According to my thermometer it has been at 99-100

 

[PP Calls]

Still air
Turned 3 times a day
According to my thermometer it has been at 99-100

That would actually be low if it were true. The thermometer might not be reading correctly.

 

[DerekBennison]

I agree. Also, did you calibrate the thermometers you were using so you know for sure they were accurate?

Since it seems like you have a pip you'll want to be boosting the humidity for lockdown now too.

Just using the mercury one that came with the incubator

 

[Pyxis]

In a still air the temperature should be 101.5 measured at the top of the eggs, so if the thermometer was reading correctly I would actually expect them to hatch a little late. You may want to calibrate that.