Is lockdown really that critical?

[Amanda39]

I'm curious, as I sit here staring at my first duck egg that has pipped through the shell. Why can't I open the lid and put a flash light to the other eggs to see what's going on for a minute? I mean, the Mamma duck HAS to get up and go to the bathroom and feed. She can't sit there for 3 days straight. Can she? Also, I have the binsea incubator with automatic water pump. The humidity is constant and never changes unless I open the lid. When I do replace the lid, it takes less than 1 minute to get back to the proper tmp and humidity.

I have a goose egg in there that stopped moving and I would like to put a flash light on it for movement. Is it really that critical that I change the humidity level for 1 minute?

 

[SA Farm]

If you really want to risk it, go for it. A VERY quick peak shouldn't hurt, but I wouldn't take the risk personally.

 

[Amanda39]

Does the mama duck get up while they are hatching? I have seen so many videos on youtube of pipped and hatching eggs and they have the lids off for like 5 minutes video taping. And there are follow up videos after they have all hatched. How are all of theirs surviving with the lids off for so long?

 

[dheltzel]

If you do, and the duckling dies in the shell, you will kick yourself repeatedly over it, I've been there. It's still your call, but what will you do with whatever info you get from opening it?

 

[Amanda39]

Well, if it appears one of the geese have died, I would like to remove it from the incubator. I wouldn't want bacteria in there. Or, is it safe to leave a dead one in the shell while others are hatching?

I'm simply curious, this is all new to me!

 

[dheltzel]

It's safer to leave the dead egg in until the other hatch. Remove it when you remove the ducklings. I leave infertile eggs in the incubator for weeks, though I've heard goose eggs can be real stinkers when rotten. If you see seepage from an egg, or a really bad (rotten egg) smell from the incubator, get it out, otherwise, leave it there until you have another reason to open it.

 

[Amanda39]

Ok, great! Thanks! I thought I had read some where that bacteria can seap in through shells, maybe that was for people picking them up, not just dead eggs? Well, it's staying in there then

Thanks for all your answers, I appreciate it!!

Now that I have wasted 2 hours staring at a pipping duckling, I better start cleaning the house!!!

 

[dheltzel]

I've been told ducklings are slow to hatch. Someone told me 3 days from when they first pip. I sure hope they were joking, but after waiting 5 weeks (for my muscovies), what's a few more days, right?

 

[Amiga]

What I have been told is that opening the incubator at the wrong time will cause the membrane to dry and wrap tightly around the duckling, "zip locking" it and smothering it.

 

[Amanda39]

Thanks Amiga, I'm not opening it, so all is good so far. Boy, this egg watching is tough! It's had the same size hole ALL day with no change, I hope things are better in the morning!