LOCKDOWN QUESTIONS

[Quacklet-newbie]

Hey guys thought I'd ask you lovely lot a question as I see different things online I've done my final candling and set up for lockdown tonight for 4 cayuga ducks none have internally pipped yet but are trying as can see them pushing on the membrane. Now some things I've read say not to lockdown until internal pip some say 3 days before expected hatch date, there expected hatch date is Wednesday but do I wait for internal pips or just leave well alone now, I'm worried about one that has a full side air sack and I can't work out where he's trying to pip but I think it maybe at the smaller end so be keeping in close eye on this one to hopefully get him through the hatch if he has any difficulty. Thanks in advance guys xx attached pics of one trying to internally pip

 

[Miss Lydia]

@My15Ducks

@KathiQuacks

 

[My15Ducks]

I have used the “wait until first internal pip before starting lockdown” method twice now and am very happy with the results. Your eggs look so close to internal pipping that I think it would be ok to put them in lockdown now (especially if you’re not going to be home to check them again soon), or check them again in about 8 hours or so and I think you will see some internal pips. I don’t raise humidity until I see the first external pip.

As for the one that you think might be malpositioned, watch closely for bruising outside of the aircell. If it makes a bruise outside of the aircell that probably means it can’t externally pip and you need to make a pin sized safety hole directly over the bruise. The bruise may be very tiny.

 

[Quacklet-newbie]

I have used the “wait until first internal pip before starting lockdown” method twice now and am very happy with the results. Your eggs look so close to internal pipping that I think it would be ok to put them in lockdown now (especially if you’re not going to be home to check them again soon), or check them again in about 8 hours or so and I think you will see some internal pips. I don’t raise humidity until I see the first external pip.

As for the one that you think might be malpositioned, watch closely for bruising outside of the aircell. If it makes a bruise outside of the aircell that probably means it can’t externally pip and you need to make a pin sized safety hole directly over the bruise. The bruise may be very tiny.

Thank you I'd say 3 of them are definitely close to internal pip, how do I go about checking on the possible malpositioned one am I OK to open the incubator briefly to give him a quick once over to check for a bruise.

So excited we're so close to hatching and fingers crossed all 4 can make it through I've raised the humidity slightly what's your recommended humidity for hatching again another thing that varies so much upto 80% xx

 

[My15Ducks]

Thank you I'd say 3 of them are definitely close to internal pip, how do I go about checking on the possible malpositioned one am I OK to open the incubator briefly to give him a quick once over to check for a bruise.

So excited we're so close to hatching and fingers crossed all 4 can make it through I've raised the humidity slightly what's your recommended humidity for hatching again another thing that varies so much upto 80% xx

I raised humidity to 70% once I saw external pips - but once they started hatching mine usually goes up to 80% because of all the wet ducklings!

I know a lot of people don’t like opening the incubator during lockdown at all - so this is just my opinion - but yes, I take out the egg to check for bruising if I think it’s got something going wrong or I suspect malposition. I open and close it really quick, and I mist a bit of water in with a spray bottle to keep the humidity up. I’m careful not to mist the eggs directly because I don’t want to spray an external pip. It’s a very fine mist. (note: once there are wet ducks in there and the humidity is in the 80s there’s no need to mist water anymore). I’ve done this both hatches and haven’t had any shrink wrapping. (I’ve had 3 backwards ducklings, 2 needed help, 1 didn’t)

 

[KathiQuacks]

I had a full-side air cell in my last hatch, and baby was indeed malpositioned (foot over head). Watch that one closely for sure.
I agree with everything My15Ducks has said!!

 

[Quacklet-newbie]

I raised humidity to 70% once I saw external pips - but once they started hatching mine usually goes up to 80% because of all the wet ducklings!

I know a lot of people don’t like opening the incubator during lockdown at all - so this is just my opinion - but yes, I take out the egg to check for bruising if I think it’s got something going wrong or I suspect malposition. I open and close it really quick, and I mist a bit of water in with a spray bottle to keep the humidity up. I’m careful not to mist the eggs directly because I don’t want to spray an external pip. It’s a very fine mist. (note: once there are wet ducks in there and the humidity is in the 80s there’s no need to mist water anymore). I’ve done this both hatches and haven’t had any shrink wrapping. (I’ve had 3 backwards ducklings, 2 needed help, 1 didn’t)

Thank you for the advise ill keep you upto date as we progress I feel like I may have a couple of sleepless nights lol

 

[Quacklet-newbie]

I had a full-side air cell in my last hatch, and baby was indeed malpositioned (foot over head). Watch that one closely for sure.
I agree with everything My15Ducks has said!!

Thank you kathiquacks did you manage to get them hatched OK, I definatly feel like it's not positioned well looking at the movements compared to the other 3 I'm just not sure if I'm seeing a beak or something else in the smaller end it's not as clear but will keep a close eye

 

[KathiQuacks]

Thank you kathiquacks did you manage to get them hatched OK, I definatly feel like it's not positioned well looking at the movements compared to the other 3 I'm just not sure if I'm seeing a beak or something else in the smaller end it's not as clear but will keep a close eye

No, unfortunately not, but it doesn’t mean yours can’t. My ducky needed a full-assist, but I waited a little too long to do it. I’d read through this article in case you need to assist your baby, too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

It’ll tell you how to make a safety hole, how to assist, when to assist, etc.

 

[My15Ducks]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/goose-incubation-hatching-guide-completed.491013/

Here’s another great article on hatching and assisting