help with ducks in incubator

[doodrop96]

Hello,new to the forum so I will try to be very detailed... Last summer I got a still air incubator and tried my first batch of chickens, I had a moderate success rate with them and loved it..I since then have tried ducks on 2 different occasions. The first batch was horrible....I started with a dozen eggs, they pipped and I watched them constantly and all of them ended up dying...I know the humidity was and is a factor..The second batch I did in fact hatch 4 babies, they are doing great. I am still aware it is a humidity factor. I am on day 28 of a new batch. I have 2 eggs in the incubator, I have put paper towels in it am adding water and am trying to do everything possible to get the humidity up but nothing is working...I do not know what else to do. I have 2 eggs that have made holes and I can see one of them breathing..I am patiently waiting for something to happen. Please help me if anyone has any suggestions on the humidity factor.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hello,new to the forum so I will try to be very detailed... Last summer I got a still air incubator and tried my first batch of chickens, I had a moderate success rate with them and loved it..I since then have tried ducks on 2 different occasions. The first batch was horrible....I started with a dozen eggs, they pipped and I watched them constantly and all of them ended up dying...I know the humidity was and is a factor..The second batch I did in fact hatch 4 babies, they are doing great. I am still aware it is a humidity factor. I am on day 28 of a new batch. I have 2 eggs in the incubator, I have put paper towels in it am adding water and am trying to do everything possible to get the humidity up but nothing is working...I do not know what else to do. I have 2 eggs that have made holes and I can see one of them breathing..I am patiently waiting for something to happen. Please help me if anyone has any suggestions on the humidity factor.

Welcome to BYC

I am going to see if I can get the atrention of some of our resident experienced hatchers @casportpony and @Lacrystol

 

[doodrop96]

Cannot thank you enough. It appears that one of the eggs that poked a hole is still alive I can see it breathing. The other 2 have done nothing more since yesterday. I can see in the incubator fairly well not great but ok. the other eggs look as tho they have ducks in them, you can see the dark outline, but nothing has happened. I do not know what to do about the humidity. If that is the problem I am guessing I am too late.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Cannot thank you enough. It appears that one of the eggs that poked a hole is still alive I can see it breathing. The other 2 have done nothing more since yesterday. I can see in the incubator fairly well not great but ok. the other eggs look as tho they have ducks in them, you can see the dark outline, but nothing has happened. I do not know what to do about the humidity. If that is the problem I am guessing I am too late.

Have you tried making a safe hole? that's where you make a small hole in fat end of egg in the air sac, candle first to make sure you don't hit duckling, this will help the duckling breathe if it has internally pipped. Have you candle the eggs at all?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching
Here is a thread on intervening on chicks and i'll get you one on ducklings
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...days-ago-but-no-external-pip-yet#post_8686492

 

[doodrop96]

Yes I have candled the eggs. That is the fun part. There was only a couple of them that i really was not sure about.I did not know anything about a safe hole..I will read the suggested threads. Can you give me any info on the humidity factor?

 

[doodrop96]

Another question...I read on the help in hatching page that if you are not sure about the internal pipping to take the eggs out and candle them. I am on hatch day now and I thought that after lockdown i was not to open the incubator for any reason...please tell me what to do.....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Another question...I read on the help in hatching page that if you are not sure about the internal pipping to take the eggs out and candle them. I am on hatch day now and I thought that after lockdown i was not to open the incubator for any reason...please tell me what to do.....

Go here and follow some good advise given about making a safe hole . https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/986622/incubating-call-duck-eggs/20#post_15361020 starting with post 18

This same member maybe abler to help with humidity I don't use a bator so can't advise.

 

[Lacrystol]

Cannot thank you enough. It appears that one of the eggs that poked a hole is still alive I can see it breathing. The other 2 have done nothing more since yesterday. I can see in the incubator fairly well not great but ok. the other eggs look as tho they have ducks in them, you can see the dark outline, but nothing has happened. I do not know what to do about the humidity. If that is the problem I am guessing I am too late.

Spray the EGGS, what is the humidity at?? What kind of ducks?

 

[Lacrystol]

Another question...I read on the help in hatching page that if you are not sure about the internal pipping to take the eggs out and candle them. I am on hatch day now and I thought that after lockdown i was not to open the incubator for any reason...please tell me what to do.....

OK, I'm a little confused so get me on the right track, you have how many eggs, what kind, and where is the temp and humidity at? Is this a still?

 

[doodrop96]

Hi, yes still air. Temp 99.5. Humidity 47. I can't seem to get the humidity up.