Incubating Muscovy and Pekin eggs at different ages and I can’t tell the difference! How can I tell??

[AmyA248]

Hello to all!

My ducks have began to lay again but are not sitting. They dug a deep hole and laid 6 eggs. The problem is we now have Pekins as well and I honestly don’t know if the eggs are Muscovy or Pekin! I need to find out because lockdown is different and the eggs are of different ages. If they are Pekin lockdown is in 3 days! But if they are Muscovy then lockdown will not be for another 10 days.
I’ve candled them and they are are doing well.
The 2 oldest are completely full but I truly cannot tell because I have only had Muscovy’s and what if they are “mixed” when would lockdown be if they are half Pekin and half Muscovy?
And also, my dog bumped me when I was candling and the lid of the incubator dented one of the eggs!
There is no leakage and the membrane is fine.
The duckling is still moving but I put tape over the dent and keep a very close eye on it.
It is one of the 2 oldest eggs and almost completely full.
I’m so scared and praying it will be ok!

Ugh, I don’t know what to do!!!

 

[NatJ]

Hello to all!

My ducks have began to lay again but are not sitting. They dug a deep hole and laid 6 eggs. The problem is we now have Pekins as well and I honestly don’t know if the eggs are Muscovy or Pekin! I need to find out because lockdown is different and the eggs are of different ages. If they are Pekin lockdown is in 3 days! But if they are Muscovy then lockdown will not be for another 10 days.
I’ve candled them and they are are doing well.
The 2 oldest are completely full but I truly cannot tell because I have only had Muscovy’s and what if they are “mixed” when would lockdown be if they are half Pekin and half Muscovy?
And also, my dog bumped me when I was candling and the lid of the incubator dented one of the eggs!
There is no leakage and the membrane is fine.
The duckling is still moving but I put tape over the dent and keep a very close eye on it.
It is one of the 2 oldest eggs and almost completely full.
I’m so scared and praying it will be ok!

Ugh, I don’t know what to do!!! View attachment 3768642View attachment 3768643

If you really can't tell, just start lockdown at the earlier time and see what happens.

A week with no turning, near the end of incubation, should not hurt them if they are the slower kind.

If some hatch early and some late, wait until the early ones are done hatching then move them to a brooder, leaving the later eggs to hatch when they are ready.

I think the photos do show some that will hatch sooner than others, but I'm not very good at interpreting candling pictures.

I found an old thread that says "mule" ducks (cross of Muscovy and Pekin or similar breeds) hatch in 32 days, which would be about halfway in between the parent breeds.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/incubation-for-mule-eggs.340295/
I don't know of any good way to sort them out, except by noticing when they hatch and seeing how many days it was. Obviously that does not help with deciding when lockdown should be!

 

[AmyA248]

If you really can't tell, just start lockdown at the earlier time and see what happens.

A week with no turning, near the end of incubation, should not hurt them if they are the slower kind.

If some hatch early and some late, wait until the early ones are done hatching then move them to a brooder, leaving the later eggs to hatch when they are ready.

I think the photos do show some that will hatch sooner than others, but I'm not very good at interpreting candling pictures.

I found an old thread that says "mule" ducks (cross of Muscovy and Pekin or similar breeds) hatch in 32 days, which would be about halfway in between the parent breeds.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/incubation-for-mule-eggs.340295/
I don't know of any good way to sort them out, except by noticing when they hatch and seeing how many days it was. Obviously that does not help with deciding when lockdown should be!

Thank you sooo much!
This really is a tough one, as one is looking like it’s trying to pip into the air sac this morning! Fingers crossed

 

[AmyA248]

If you really can't tell, just start lockdown at the earlier time and see what happens.

A week with no turning, near the end of incubation, should not hurt them if they are the slower kind.

If some hatch early and some late, wait until the early ones are done hatching then move them to a brooder, leaving the later eggs to hatch when they are ready.

I think the photos do show some that will hatch sooner than others, but I'm not very good at interpreting candling pictures.

I found an old thread that says "mule" ducks (cross of Muscovy and Pekin or similar breeds) hatch in 32 days, which would be about halfway in between the parent breeds.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/incubation-for-mule-eggs.340295/
I don't know of any good way to sort them out, except by noticing when they hatch and seeing how many days it was. Obviously that does not help with deciding when lockdown should be!

I really wish I could tell the difference between Pekin and Muscovy eggs. I’ve been trying to look it up but can’t find a side by side comparison. I’m not receiving any responses except for you and today is day 26!
I’ve only incubated Muscovy’s and it was very difficult come hatch time! They simply couldn’t hatch by themselves, maybe because of too much oyster shell calcium?? I had to always make safety holes and intervene.
My hens never went broody and we just couldn’t figure out why.
We were very surprised to see that “someone” or multiple hens were laying in March on the East Coast!! We had 5 but one didn’t make it and the oldest are 26 days today. But if they are Muscovy’s incubation is much longer then Pekins, so I really don’t know what to do because I’m far from an expert! Lol!

 

[BelovedBirds]

But if they are Muscovy’s incubation is much longer then Pekins, so I really don’t know what to do because I’m far from an expert! Lol!

NatJ just gave you a good solution, if you aren't sure, lockdown early.
Or you can wait until the air cells draw down, and then put them into lockdown

 

[BelovedBirds]

Thank you sooo much!
This really is a tough one, as one is looking like it’s trying to pip into the air sac this morning! Fingers crossed

That sounds like shadowing, which can happen in the days leading up to an internal pip, doesn't necessarily mean it's ready to pop, unless the air cell has drawn down ready.

 

[AmyA248]

NatJ just gave you a good solution, if you aren't sure, lockdown early.
Or you can wait until the air cells draw down, and then put them into lockdown

Newest pics.

 

[AmyA248]

I can’t tell if it internally pipped! The air sacks are shifting around. Is that normal??

 

[BelovedBirds]

Newest pics.

Certainly looks ready for lockdown, I'd raise that humidity and stop turning them for sure. That air cell is dipping nicely.
I can see shadowing in the air cell but I'm not sure if it's an internal pip yet. Either way, lockdown right away.

Also just a tip, imo candling is fine until there hatch process starts, but I don't reccomend lifting the egg out of the incubator and turning them upside down etc, as it could disorientate the baby inside. What I did with my girlies was use my phones flashlight, lowering it into the incubator and getting a quick peak at their process. I didn't see an internal pip with either of them, but I did hear chirping and tapping and that's when I'd step well back, until help was required for them. Really though, candling isn't necessary during lockdown unless a problem is suspected. Best to give them their space

 

[BelovedBirds]

I can’t tell if it internally pipped! The air sacks are shifting around. Is that normal??

What do you mean by shifting around? It's normal for the air cell to get very large and dip down the side a bit close to hatch, is that what you mean?