Inconsistent Air Sacs

[chickens really]

Hello..They definitely are getting into position and has nothing to do with hatching early. I only turn my eggs twice a day and by day 21 they are hard to keep on the opposite side. Many times I stop turning once they won't turn ..

 

[DuckyDonna]

If they're moving on their own, it's the baby ducks trying to position themselves for pipping. But I also have problems with the eggs rolling sometimes just because of their shape. The wire flooring doesn't exactly provide a good surface for holding them in place.

Would they be already doing that at day 21? I've got them in the incubator on that rubber shelving stuff they sell at the dollar store. I thought about the shape of them being the reason too but it's only started happening recently so that didn't make sense to me.

 

[WVduckchick]

Would they be already doing that at day 21? I've got them in the incubator on that rubber shelving stuff they sell at the dollar store. I thought about the shape of them being the reason too but it's only started happening recently so that didn't make sense to me.

Yes they are starting to really fill up the space inside, so they are getting into position. It’s really not vital to turn past day 21, so if you want to stop, you can. Just leave the lowest dip of the air cell side facing up.
I draw a vertical line on mine (fat end to pointed end direction), on the low side of the dip, just to keep track if they get rolled after hatching starts.

 

[christylynne11]

Would they be already doing that at day 21? I've got them in the incubator on that rubber shelving stuff they sell at the dollar store. I thought about the shape of them being the reason too but it's only started happening recently so that didn't make sense to me.

They definitely start doing that around day 20-21. Sometimes a little bit earlier. On day 21, I felt one of the ducklings kicking in the shell while candling. Once they internally pip, the eggs start crashing into each other like bowling pins lol.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Yes they are starting to really fill up the space inside, so they are getting into position. It’s really not vital to turn past day 21, so if you want to stop, you can. Just leave the lowest dip of the air cell side facing up.
I draw a vertical line on mine (fat end to pointed end direction), on the low side of the dip, just to keep track if they get rolled after hatching starts.

Ok, thanks a lot. I am going to do that right now! I can't believe it's getting that close!

 

[christylynne11]

Yes they are starting to really fill up the space inside, so they are getting into position. It’s really not vital to turn past day 21, so if you want to stop, you can. Just leave the lowest dip of the air cell side facing up.
I draw a vertical line on mine (fat end to pointed end direction), on the low side of the dip, just to keep track if they get rolled after hatching starts.

I put a "T" for "top". Ha ha. By they time my eggs hatch, they look like graffiti walls.

 

[christylynne11]

For turning, I start with an "X" on one side and a letter to represent the breed on the other ("C" for Cayuga, "R" for Rouen, "A" for Ancona, and "S" for Blue Swedish). Yes, sometimes I line them up in the bator so they spell "CARS".

As they start to develop on day 7, I mark them with a small "F" for "fertile" on the small end, so I can remember which ones to check for developement on day 10.

If I notice a bruise, I mark the eggs with a large "B" on each side, so I can remember to sniff test it at turning.

When drawback begins, I put a small "o" in the center of the air sac, so I can tell if a baby pips in the wrong place without having to candle them all.

As they internally pip, I mark them with a "P" on the large end, so I know to leave them alone with the small "o" facing up.

Weak ducklings get marked with a small "w" so I can keep an eye on them.

Hence, the 'graffiti wall' look at hatching time.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I put a "T" for "top". Ha ha. By they time my eggs hatch, they look like graffiti walls.

I know right! It's no wonder I can't see anything inside the egg I've got so much written on it!

 

[chickens really]

I put an X and O on my eggs and that's it...
I have great hatching rates..

 

[christylynne11]

I put an X and O on my eggs and that's it...
I have great hatching rates..

I'm just obsessive. You'd think I'd get tired of it hatching a batch every 5 weeks, but no. I'm still obsessed. At least I know not to intervene until absolutely necessary.