Help! Humidity advice for large detached air cells!

[Mablethechicken]

I know newbies must be so annoying. I also know I probably shouldn’t be candling this much BUT, I turned down my humidity a little. The air cell on a few seems to be getting bigger at the saddle. Please tell me what you think! Also, on another thread someone mentioned candling before lock down to see how I should lay them for hatching. How will I tell if they should be facing up or if they should lay down on the side? Thanks for all yalls help! These are day 18.

I candled a lot like ALOT so no worries.
I hatched mine upright and tilted them slightly so the lowest part of the air cell or saddling was facing up. There’s really no exact science to find out where they will pip but I thought this would give them the best chance. I also created a viewing window on the top in addition to the one I originally had on the side so I could look down and see as many sides of the eggs as possible in case one started to pip on the backside.

Because I continued to candle periodically on day 18 and 19 (and 20 ) I was able to see where the movement was localized to (remember they’re so right in there at this point their movements aren’t as all over the place) and eventually I could even see where they had internally pipped and/or where they were attempting to internally pip. I then circled that spot and made sure to have that side tilted up. They all still hatched upright not laying down. In pretty much every case they externally pipped within the area I circled.
The first picture is an internal pip. The second is a shadow where I saw the pecking motion indicating it was trying to pip into the air cell. The last two you can see the externally pip at the top right of the circle I drew on the eggs.
Also at this point I would increase humidity in preparation for hatch and also if you are going to continue to candle you’ll want humidity high. I think I already said this but I kept a spray bottle of warm water handy and misted the inside of the incubator anytime I opened it starting at day 19

 

[amibpoe]

I candled a lot like ALOT so no worries.
I hatched mine upright and tilted them slightly so the lowest part of the air cell or saddling was facing up. There’s really no exact science to find out where they will pip but I thought this would give them the best chance. I also created a viewing window on the top in addition to the one I originally had on the side so I could look down and see as many sides of the eggs as possible in case one started to pip on the backside.

Because I continued to candle periodically on day 18 and 19 (and 20 ) I was able to see where the movement was localized to (remember they’re so right in there at this point their movements aren’t as all over the place) and eventually I could even see where they had internally pipped and/or where they were attempting to internally pip. I then circled that spot and made sure to have that side tilted up. They all still hatched upright not laying down. In pretty much every case they externally pipped within the area I circled.
The first picture is an internal pip. The second is a shadow where I saw the pecking motion indicating it was trying to pip into the air cell. The last two you can see the externally pip at the top right of the circle I drew on the eggs.
Also at this point I would increase humidity in preparation for hatch and also if you are going to continue to candle you’ll want humidity high. I think I already said this but I kept a spray bottle of warm water handy and misted the inside of the incubator anytime I opened it starting at day 19 View attachment 2141659View attachment 2141660View attachment 2141661View attachment 2141662

Thank you! I’ll be happy if I just end up with a couple ducks!

 

[Mablethechicken]

Thank you! I’ll be happy if I just end up with a couple ducks!

Good luck!! Please keep us updated!

 

[kara_aus]

Hi there,
I just followed this advice for Day 7 of my eggs with huge air cells.
Just wondering, when I put the eggs in cartons upside down, will the aircells then go to the bottom?
Thank you

 

[Mablethechicken]

Hi there,
I just followed this advice for Day 7 of my eggs with huge air cells.
Just wondering, when I put the eggs in cartons upside down, will the aircells then go to the bottom?
Thank you

Hi! The air cells are (at least should be) at the big end of the egg. If you put them in the cartons with the big end up and the pointier end down, the air cells will be at the top (in the big end).

 

[amibpoe]

Forgot to update! I ended up with 5 ducklings. Most likely two females and 3 males. They’re 2 weeks old today. Two didn’t hatch. I did not open them but judging from candling one pipped internally, and the other I have no idea. It appears the one that pipped most likely drowned.

 

[Mablethechicken]

Forgot to update! I ended up with 5 ducklings. Most likely two females and 3 males. They’re 2 weeks old today. Two didn’t hatch. I did not open them but judging from candling one pipped internally, and the other I have no idea. It appears the one that pipped most likely drowned.

So cute!!!! Thanks for the update!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Thank you! not that I’m aware of. I ordered these from North Carolina. I live in south jersey so they journey pretty far. I just wanted to add a few to my flock. I lost a couple over the winter. Thought it would be fun for my kids to see a hatch and being furloughed and in quarantine this is really the only time I think I’ll have to be able to constantly monitor eggs. If we do it again I’ll try to find local and I’ll invest in an incubator. I’m actually pretty happy with the one I made and the thermometer/hygrometer actually has an app so I monitor the temp and RH from my phone anywhere on our property. I’ll send an update on hatch day! Send positive vibes!

@Mablethechicken any chance you'd share where you ordered eggs in NC? I live in NC but I've been ordering eggs from all over in attempts to get the breeds I want. All but 2 of my egg shipments have been horrible, and that's a lot of $. Thank you for your time

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@Mablethechicken Also, any chance you had any rolling air cells in any of your shipped eggs? I've had so many saddled rolling air cells in my recent orders. I'm curious if you did anything differently for them? Some of my rolling air cells have fixed themselves but the majority haven't. I started them out standing fat end up, in an egg carton cut individually and without bottoms. I'm on Day 12 for my first clutch, but I also have eggs on Day 10, and Day 2, and some that I received today.

Lastly, I haven't finished reading yet, but do you need any pictures? I have some that I believe to be clear, one that I believe is gone and has a blood ring (not 100% sure as it still has veins too and no smells yet, but I am keeping a close "nose" on the possibilities)

I wanted to add that I have read the huge thread here on BYC about incubating and I refer back to it very often. I'm just curious about any new information or maybe you explain it differently, if that makes sense. I could read that enormous amount of information 10 times but I still need to refer back to it due to my nerves keeping me from absorbing it all

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Forgot to update! I ended up with 5 ducklings. Most likely two females and 3 males. They’re 2 weeks old today. Two didn’t hatch. I did not open them but judging from candling one pipped internally, and the other I have no idea. It appears the one that pipped most likely drowned.

Any advice to share on incubating duck eggs that you wish you'd known before you started? I'm hoping to incubate duck eggs next and then geese! I'd like to get the hang of chicks first and then move on.