For about 24 hours my duck egg (whihc is on day 27 now) hasn't pipped internally yet, and for about 24 hours it looks like he#s been struggling to get through the inner membrane, is this normal or should he get through witin the next 12 hours or so. He's still moving in there and fighting away at the membrane but just not seeming to get through??? Any Ideas?
I would say you should not be candling the eggs at this point. It messes up the very fragile environment that is necessary for them to hatch. Duck eggs require more humidity than chickens. Place the egg on a damp paper towel or cloth and get the humidity up and let it be. Some people spritz the eggs with warm water for the last few days. Sometimes it takes a bit longer than the number of days published. If the incubator was running a bit cool or it was opened to many times it can slow down the hatch. All you can do is wait and see. It is hard to do, I know.
Add a big clean wet sponge if you need to raise humidity to 80 - 85%. Do not spray duck eggs - this causes them to dry out due to evaporation. This will also cool the eggs which is not needed by ducks. Duck eggs take 28 - 32 days to hatch. Muscovy ducks take 35. Be patient. leave the incubator closed and don't handle the eggs. You will compromise your hatch.
the first 4 duck eggs of mine when i notice the tiny small crack ( not pip ) but when i notice the small crack on the shell...on the 1st 4 eggs they didn't fully pip through to make a small hole till 2 days later
