Internal pip 2 days ago. No external yet. Intervene?

[tumnus]

Hi all. First time incubating Pekin duck eggs. We're currently on day 27. I noticed the first internal pip on day 25 sometime. They're all internally pipped now. I expected to see some external pips by now but none have. I did a quick candling this morning to make sure everyone was still alive, and they're moving around quite a bit.

The air cells were definitely a little bit wonky and misshapen in some of them. Humidity was between 40 and 60% through incubation (dropping lower once or twice) and is only a little bit higher now. Temperature is kind of a wild card with three thermometers telling me three different things.

The air cells are almost completely darkened now. I'm assuming that means they've done a good job of getting through the membrane. But the lack of external pip is concerning. At what point is it appropriate to assist?

 

[casportpony]

@WVduckchick , @Pyxis , @Ravynscroft are three duck hatchers that will probably have some advice for you.

 

[WVduckchick]

I'm swamped today so won't be able to check in again for a while. Hopefully the others will be along soon.

Are you using still air incubator or fan?

Anyway, a tiny safety hole won't hurt anything at this point, but just the slightest, tiniest hole possible.

Good luck!

 

[tumnus]

I'm swamped today so won't be able to check in again for a while. Hopefully the others will be along soon.

Are you using still air incubator or fan?

Anyway, a tiny safety hole won't hurt anything at this point, but just the slightest, tiniest hole possible.

Good luck!

I'm using a hovabator still air incubator. I might give them a little more time before I do anything. The eggs are moving around and you can hear the chicks inside scraping the shell. They're working hard!

 

[junebuggena]

Ducks take MUCH longer to hatch than chickens. 48 hours from to pip to zip is not uncommon at all.

 

[tumnus]

Ducks take MUCH longer to hatch than chickens. 48 hours from to pip to zip is not uncommon at all.

Totally. I've mostly been trying to ignore them since lockdown for that very reason. I just know that there's a finite amount of air in the eggs. Hopefully they pip soon. You can see the eggs vibrating and shaking and can even kinda hear scraping noises.

 

[junebuggena]

Just be sure to keep that humidity up as high as you can get it.

 

[tumnus]

Just be sure to keep that humidity up as high as you can get it.

I've got it up around 65-75% right now. I've been cautioned away from going much higher than that. Was that bad advice?

 

[junebuggena]

I've got it up around 65-75% right now. I've been cautioned away from going much higher than that. Was that bad advice?

That's chicken/muscovy hatching range. Mallard breeds need at least 70%, 80% is better.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Hi all. First time incubating Pekin duck eggs. We're currently on day 27. I noticed the first internal pip on day 25 sometime. They're all internally pipped now. I expected to see some external pips by now but none have. I did a quick candling this morning to make sure everyone was still alive, and they're moving around quite a bit.

The air cells were definitely a little bit wonky and misshapen in some of them. Humidity was between 40 and 60% through incubation (dropping lower once or twice) and is only a little bit higher now. Temperature is kind of a wild card with three thermometers telling me three different things.

The air cells are almost completely darkened now. I'm assuming that means they've done a good job of getting through the membrane. But the lack of external pip is concerning. At what point is it appropriate to assist?

Here's a good guide for assist steps...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

Internal pipped for 2 days is a good time for safety holes, that article explains just how small safety holes are...

Wonky air cells, so shipped eggs?

Humidity is perfect at 65%... guides for most waterfowl eggs that say higher are actually giving wet bulb readings, not hygrometer readings, they translate to 65% as avg...

Read the article before assisting though, it will walk you through it...