HELP! I am now mama to 17 duck eggs and lost as can be...

[ducksinarow]

Without enough moisture a heating pad will just cook the eggs. Eggs are very difficult to hatch even with an incubator. Best of luck.

 

[mtadkins5]

Update: I am sooooooooooo very sad right now!!!I try to help and only make things worse. The box started stinking so we began candling the eggs bc I read you have to get rid of the bad ones or thhey will cause the other ones to die. Not to mention I have them in my house and it was stinking.After about 5 eggs one looked very different bc it had a very dark spot and a huge air pocket so I puy a needle in it. Nothing happened at first so I opened it alittle more then the yolk came out slowly. We finished opening all the way and it was all very dark yellow and that appeared to be all that was in it.We contined with a couple more and they looked fine till I got to the next to last egg. I started the same way and nothing came out. I opened it more and seen a sack and put a pin hole in it.It began moving. It eas a fully formed duckling and it was completely attached to the sack full of veins and yolk looking stuff. Needless to say it passed. It was moving and opened its eyes bless it's heart. I feel horrible!!!

 

[mtadkins5]

Update: One egg is visably moving! The box still stinks but now I am afraid to do anything

 

[Miss Lydia]

Update: One egg is visably moving! The box still stinks but now I am afraid to do anything

you can take it out of the stinky box and just recreate what you have done in the one it's in now minus the stink. Mist with warm water. until you see external pip then most likely your going to have to help it because without adequate humidity high it will get shrink wrapped in the shell.https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...days-ago-but-no-external-pip-yet#post_8686492https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

 

[mtadkins5]

So I have 15 eggs left. I think 12 look really good from candleing. I am just not sure when to stop turning them sine I truely don't know what day they are.They have too be very close considering the looks of the one in the above comments.

 

[ducksinarow]

http://s1203.photobucket.com/user/j...366861_505166860_8361314_337303222_n.jpg.html

This is plans for a box incubator. You might want to add a bowl of water to you box. You can sniff the eggs to see which one is rotten. Your nose will know.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So I have 15 eggs left. I think 12 look really good from candleing. I am just not sure when to stop turning them sine I truely don't know what day they are.They have too be very close considering the looks of the one in the above comments.

I'd continue to turn till you see an internal pip then stop. But since I let my ducks do the hatching don't know for sure. This is for geese but I think it may help
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/491013/goose-incubation-hatching-guide-completed

 

[mtadkins5]

This waiting game is AWFUL!!! I still don't see a internal pip. Out of the eggs 12 of the 15 look great. The air sacs seem prett large.After they internally pip how long before they externally pip?

 

[Miss Lydia]

This waiting game is AWFUL!!! I still don't see a internal pip. Out of the eggs 12 of the 15 look great. The air sacs seem prett large.After they internally pip how long before they externally pip?

It can take up to 36 hrs from internal to zip so be patient. It's a long process and a lot of folks will freak out and begin to help but can cause the duckling to bleed to death or hatch before it's absorbed the yolk sac so don't fret unless it's longer than 36 hrs. They are on their time schedule not ours.

 

[samuelsonfarm]

Oh my goodness. I just read this thread from the beginning. I'm rooting for you and those babies! Can't wait to hear another update