As promised in the reply PM this morning.
My runners average under 28 days for incubation so I am used to them being just a little early. It takes patience- with around 24 hours between internal and external pip - then up to another 24 hours before they start to unzip the egg finding things to keep you busy and away from the incubator can be a great distraction. Just sitting in front of the bator waiting for something to happen is only going to make it seem longer.
In this photo you can see the ducklings bill in the aircell, as well as the little crack where it has externally pipped as well.
For those who cant work out what they are looking at...
The red line indicates where you can see a vein or two right up until the hatch is complete usually- indicationg that the duckling is alive. There is a little air pocket there beside the ducklings head if it is in the right posotion for hatching.
The Yellow Circle Indicates where the bill is- you can see the shadow moving up and down as is breathers or taps on the shell.
The green circle is where the external pip has happened.
The lilac oval is where to look for movement at the base of the aircell in the last 2-3 days prior to lockdown. This is where the ducklings back is against the shell and fluttering type movement can be seen as the duckling moves into position to hatch.
AS for the hatching.... After the external pip- the duckling will rest up a bit while the blood in the veins and the yolk is absorbed. It will move around at this as well. Once it starts to unzip you usually start to hear abit of urgency in their voice.
This little one decided to make a backward entry into the world. I had watched it pip and waited until fully unzipped before taking the egg from the incubator- It was the last one from that setting to hatc- that way i was not opening the incubator and effecting humidity for hatching. Usually they get the head out and kick with their legs til they are free of the egg.
and then when all fluffed up...
Best of luck with those eggs, And hope you soon get to watch for yourself what is in these photos.