Help Help Help!! Ducks Are Hatching Day Of Lockdown!!!

[kare21162]

Lockdown for my duck eggs is today! I just went in there around 1:20pm and 2 have pips! I can hear them quacking! I wasn't prepared for that until Thursday when day 28 is!!! I set them on the 1st of April at 6:45pm...so naturally I'm thinking that at 6:45pm tonight will be when I set them for lockdown! WHAT DO I DO!!! I set them in an unplugged egg turner and set a washcloth wet with water in there to get that humidity up! Our home doesn't have that much humidity because we have a wood stove...so even if I have all water channels filled plus a little cup of water in there it only gets about 55%. So I have all water channels filled with the washcloth in there because the surface area on the washcloth is greater than that cup. Tell me I'm doing this right! I was just in a rush because I didn't know what to do! It threw me off when I went and checked on them!

Thanks!!!

 

[duckielove]

That actually happened to me just last week. Thought I was losing it hearing peeping, next morning 2 were pipping. All hatched healthy and are doing well. I think you are doing all the right things. It will take a while for you humidity to go up I didnt have that problem as I actually had it a bit to high to begin with during the last week. Relax take a breath and watch the babies come, it was an awesome experience!

 

[Kittymomma]

My chicks did the same thing and it was fine. The only thing that concerns me is that you still have them in the turners. I don't have turners, but I've read that you need to take them out because the chicks/ducklings can get their legs caught in them. I hatched mine out in egg cartons and put rubber shelf liner down over the wire. Just do what you have to do and keep the humidity up. If you remove the turners and put the eggs in cartons or just lay them on their sides I'd take the bator into a hot steamy bathroom first so you don't lose too much in humidity or temp. Happy hatching!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I'd just wait. Sounds like you have done all you can. I didn't know when mine were supposed to hatch so I locked them up yesterday and have a pip today with 71% humidity. I hope mine is enough...guess we'll see!

 

[kare21162]

I have egg cartons I can put them in. I didn't have them setting in a turner the whole incubation time...I just set them in it today. I thought that it would help with them no knocking all the others around. I'll try and get the bathroom steamy and put them in the cartons! I now have 3 that are pipped!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I just went back and checked again and I have SIX pipped now.....

 

[kare21162]

I have egg cartons I can put them in. I didn't have them setting in a turner the whole incubation time...I just set them in it today. I thought that it would help with them no knocking all the others around. I'll try and get the bathroom steamy and put them in the cartons! I now have 3 that are pipped!

 

[kare21162]

I put them in the egg carton now...so now I'm just patiently waiting!

 

[Kittymomma]

I'm not sure about ducklings, but chicks can take 24 hours from pip to hatch so try not to worry if it seems to be taking forever. Hatching is hard work and they take lots of breaks and even naps.

 

[TheRanch]

I've read that if the humidity isn't quite high enough you can mist them with a bit of warm water - you might want to verify that is ok for ducks.... just a thought.... good luck on your new babies!!