Help

[NS Amber]

Just in case any experienced hatchers are still up. I am on day 27 of hatch for pekin duck eggs. On day 7 I also added some chicken eggs. Day 25 I take the turner out and laid the eggs on the wire mesh. I raised the humidity to 65% and temp between 99 and 100. Air vents are open on this Little Giant still air incubator. I candled at day 18 and removed one, the rest looked good (I think). Yesterday several of the duck eggs started to pip, and finally this evening one precious, clumsy little duck was born. Anther one was very active and made a hole about the size of a nickel.....and now hasn't moved in several hours, even when bumped by the new little duck walking all around bumping into, and climbing on everyone (I'm sure after watching closely for a long period, this guy didn't make it). So, a couple questions...
1. Should I remove the egg somehow or is it too risky for the others?
2. Another duck who has zipped all the way around, and now is suddenly very very still.....I"m wondering if this guy too is not going to make it. Any advice?
3. Another duck egg has an external pip at the wrong end of the egg (from what I've read), it is a very tiny hole, and hasn't made any headway in 24 hours. I can still see movement in there though.
None of the chicken eggs have pipped yet....do I just leave the one little fellow in there climbing all around and hope the others catch up, or?

 

[RubyNala97]

Oh boy. You have a lot going on! You said still air, right?? The temp for still air incubators needs to be 101-102f. So your temp has been to low. This will delay hatch time.
#1) If an eggs pips but does not start zipping after 24 hrs you usually need to start assisting or it could die.
#2) if an egg is zipping and then stops for longer then 30 mins. I also assist by breaking the zip open a little and allowing them to push out.
#3) wrong end pipper + 24 hrs...again time to assist.
Bump your humidity up and read this FIRST:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching
And get to work! Good luck!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Oh boy. You have a lot going on! You said still air, right?? The temp for still air incubators needs to be 101-102f. So your temp has been to low. This will delay hatch time.
#1) If an eggs pips but does not start zipping after 24 hrs you usually need to start assisting or it could die.
#2) if an egg is zipping and then stops for longer then 30 mins. I also assist by breaking the zip open a little and allowing them to push out.
#3) wrong end pipper + 24 hrs...again time to assist.
Bump your humidity up and read this FIRST:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching
And get to work! Good luck!

I agree with Ruby. Still air 101-102. I'm actually surprised that the ducks started pipping on time. As for when to remove hatchlings from the incubator, that's up to you. I remove mine to the brooder as they get active and start moving around in the bator. I use a video of chicks chirping to motivate my hatches. Many people won't remove hatchlings until the end of the hatch. Some people remove them as they get dry and fluf up. So it's a matter of finding your compfort zone. The only thing I recommend that if you are going to be opening the incubator to remove hatchlings or assist in hatching is that you make sure your humidity is up around 75%. You can add a clean sponge or two (wet) to the bator to help aid in humidity of needed. (A cloth will also help if no wet sponges.)

 

[NS Amber]

I did end up helping two along....so there are now 4 hatched!!! Then I had to leave for work, I'm so anxious to get back...I hope the rest are alive. I think if I'd helped the other, he would have survived darn it. I did read the other link first and it was SO helpful!! Thanks so much for your help and advice! I'll keep you posted!

 

[NS Amber]

Four lively little ducks so far! Nothing else had pipped.....I wonder if they will.....especially now that I've been in and out of the incubator a few times! Oh, the suspense.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Four lively little ducks so far! Nothing else had pipped.....I wonder if they will.....especially now that I've been in and out of the incubator a few times! Oh, the suspense.

If they haven't pipped opening the bator does not pose a problem. Opening the bator during hatch poses the greatest amount of risk (and then I don't care what anyone says, it's not that great unless you don't have adequate humidity to begin with,) when you have eggs that are pipped. If the membranes of the pipped eggs get dried out it can cause them to glue to the chick/duck making it hard if not impossible for the chick to move to zip and hatch. But let me say this: I am an extreme hands on hatcher and open my bator frequently during hatch and have never lost a hatchling because of it. I'm not saying everyone should throw caution to the wind and throw open those bators. I do take precautions with my humidity and monitoring the progression of the pippers. But I do feel that people blame opening the bator as a reason for unhatched hatchlings when that isn't the case.

Congrats on the ducklings. Baby ducks are so darn cute!