Incubating Muscovy Eggs Progress

[Blacklotus]

X2

I don't really 'lock down.' I candle all the way up to internal pip and increase humidity to high 70-80 when I see the first internal pip.

for ya. Can't wait to hear how it goes

Ok I will do that then, by lockdown I'm sure the sacs will have cought up too. I'll candle until I see some internal pips and then up the humidty, thanks!

I have a feeling one egg in particular is going to hatch earlier/first. It has grown further a day or two than the others! but I could be wrong. Still a whole week left to wait, my goodness it's going by so slowly!

@Ren2014 Great news by the way!!

Yes it is! It's been cold the past couple of days, so the air has been a lot drier, surprisingly because it's been a hot summer here.. so I'm glad we've had a couple of cold nights because it's helped the eggs so much.

 

[Blacklotus]

@WVduckchick @Miss Lydia @Ren2014

Hey guys, I need some reassuring... it is day 29 today, soon to be day 30.. what exactly does this mean right now? the little bugger has been pushing up like this all day, he isn't internally pipped, I don't hear any peeping or see a bill, but there's deffinitely a lot of pushing going on, with lots of shadows, and I'm worried. This is actually the egg that I had a feeling would hatch earlier than the rest, he is a day or two ahead, ever since the start so I know he will probably be the first to come. But what do I do? there is also another egg starting to do this, it isn't as much, but it's starting to. I'm worried because the rest of the eggs aren't ready to come yet, their cells still need growing, and I can't lockdown because it will affect the other eggs won't it? is it possible to hatch babies of different times? different by a couple of days atleast. This is my first proper incubation so I don't know what I'm looking at really. This would mean the beginning of an internal pip soon to come wouldn't it? Sorry for all the panic, I just want this to go as right, and smoothly as possible

~~~

 

[WVduckchick]

Could you still see movement?

Are you incubating laying down or vertically?

 

[Blacklotus]

Could you still see movement?

Are you incubating laying down or vertically?

Yep, lots of movement. And the eggs are laying down on their sides.

 

[WVduckchick]

Yep, lots of movement. And the eggs are laying down on their sides.

Looks like the one in the pic is starting to draw down...getting into hatching position.

 

[Blacklotus]

Looks like the one in the pic is starting to draw down...getting into hatching position.

Oh, I don't like the sound of that! It's so early. But just in case, I have made up an emergency homemade bator, so if he pips internally before lockdown day, should I move him into the seperate bator for hatching?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh, I don't like the sound of that! It's so early. But just in case, I have made up an emergency homemade bator, so if he pips internally before lockdown day, should I move him into the seperate bator for hatching?

@Blacklotus I am just following along since I don't do bators I hope @WVduckchick will be back soon. And hope this hatch proceeds with out any trouble other than keeping you on your toes. Now you know why I let my girls do the hatching.

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh, I don't like the sound of that! It's so early. But just in case, I have made up an emergency homemade bator, so if he pips internally before lockdown day, should I move him into the seperate bator for hatching?

Are you positive of the day count? And these are definitely Muscovy? No chance of any mallard type ducks involved?? Could a hen have spent any time on the eggs, kinda "pre-incubating" them?

Honestly, if they are just a few days apart, I don't think I'd bother with an emergency bator.... unless its one that you've tested extensively. But that's your call. Your eggs. If you are more comfortable with it, then give it a shot. But that one does definitely look to be a bit ahead of the others.

 

[Blacklotus]

@Blacklotus I am just following along since I don't do bators I hope @WVduckchick will be back soon. And hope this hatch proceeds with out any trouble other than keeping you on your toes. Now you know why I let my girls do the hatching.

Sorry I keep forgetting, and thanks

yes I imagine mumma ducks would be a much better option than a bator. I don't have any ducks here though, and was extremely fascinated to watch the growth of the babies and film/take photos. Sort of to test my new incubator out too, it hadn't ever been used... it was sitting there as an emergency for my cockatiels and other birds if they abandoned nests. It's been a fun journey so far though, I love them already!

Are you positive of the day count? And these are definitely Muscovy? No chance of any mallard type ducks involved?? Could a hen have spent any time on the eggs, kinda "pre-incubating" them?

Honestly, if they are just a few days apart, I don't think I'd bother with an emergency bator.... unless its one that you've tested extensively. But that's your call. Your eggs. If you are more comfortable with it, then give it a shot. But that one does definitely look to be a bit ahead of the others.

Yep, very certain on dates. And the eggs were clear the day I put them in the bator so they should all be the same, but this one egg has exceeded growth haha, maybe it's been in a hot spot during incubation, not sure. Nothing has progressed so far though, so I'm sure nothing will happen for a couple days yet. Will check eggs again tomorrow. And to be honest, I'm not 100% on the eggs or breeds... the farm that I picked them up from was full of white muscovy's though, and they showed me the parents.. but I have no idea if they had other duck breeds wondering around or not. So who knows, they could be a mix. Although it's day 30 now and the rest of the eggs are still cooking and not ready to pop.. so I imagine them not hatching for another 4-5 days yet. Will see how these speedy ones look tomorrow, if they have progressed a lot more, or have internally pipped.. I'll move them into another bator and go lockdown.

 

[WVduckchick]

Sorry I keep forgetting, and thanks

yes I imagine mumma ducks would be a much better option than a bator. I don't have any ducks here though, and was extremely fascinated to watch the growth of the babies and film/take photos. Sort of to test my new incubator out too, it hadn't ever been used... it was sitting there as an emergency for my cockatiels and other birds if they abandoned nests. It's been a fun journey so far though, I love them already!
Yep, very certain on dates. And the eggs were clear the day I put them in the bator so they should all be the same, but this one egg has exceeded growth haha, maybe it's been in a hot spot during incubation, not sure. Nothing has progressed so far though, so I'm sure nothing will happen for a couple days yet. Will check eggs again tomorrow. And to be honest, I'm not 100% on the eggs or breeds... the farm that I picked them up from was full of white muscovy's though, and they showed me the parents.. but I have no idea if they had other duck breeds wondering around or not. So who knows, they could be a mix. Although it's day 30 now and the rest of the eggs are still cooking and not ready to pop.. so I imagine them not hatching for another 4-5 days yet. Will see how these speedy ones look tomorrow, if they have progressed a lot more, or have internally pipped.. I'll move them into another bator and go lockdown.

Sounds good. I hope you'll keep us posted!