Muscovy - Internally pipped.

[Tahnee_maree]

Hi guys,
I’m sure many of you have heard the same questions a million times. Our Muscovy was sitting on eggs we woke one morning and she had stopped sitting and there were only three left. I candled them two had stopped developing and one was fine. We were away when she begun sitting so I have no idea how long she had been on them. So I put the little dude in my incubator in hopes of saving him. I candled it at 6am this morning to see a little beak so I’m assuming from what I’ve found on google this means it is internally pipped? How long until I should expect to see it externally pipped? My temps at 37.5, is this correct? And I read my humidity should be around 70, is this also correct? Thanks. Just want to make sure it has the best chance possible to successfully hatch. I’ve only incubated chickens once so I’m on the under experienced side of things. Especially when it comes to ducks.

 

[Pyxis]

37.5 is correct for forced air incubators, and 70% humidity will be good.

Ducks can take a long time to hatch, but expect that it should be externally pipped within 24 hours of internally pipping. From there, it could take up to 48 hours to start to zip and hatch out.

 

[americanchicks]

Ducks do take a long time to hatch. I have hatched muscovies in the incubator and after internal pip mine took about 24 hours to start external piping and then 2 days to hatch. It is a very long time to wait especially if you are worried about the little guy. Just don't assist.


I had a similar thing happen with my muscovies as well. Mom hatched 8 lovely little ducklings but left the nest with one egg still behind. Was barely warm it had externally piped and was making sad little cheeps. Put it in the incubator and waited for about 6 hours with no more progress from the duckling. Was thinking maybe getting cold affected its strength and it couldnt get out so I assisted. Turns out the little guy just needed more time to finish developing. The yolk sack had not yet absorbed.

Good luck with your duck

 

[Tahnee_maree]

37.5 is correct for forced air incubators, and 70% humidity will be good.

Ducks can take a long time to hatch, but expect that it should be externally pipped within 24 hours of internally pipping. From there, it could take up to 48 hours to start to zip and hatch out.

Thanks,
Still no external pip been made & we’ve just hit the 24 hours since internal. Hopefully the little fella is close. I’ve read that people assist and others don’t do i don’t know how I feel about that as I don’t want to cause more harm than good. Would you assist after 24 hours of trying to internal pip?

 

[Pyxis]

Thanks,
Still no external pip been made & we’ve just hit the 24 hours since internal. Hopefully the little fella is close. I’ve read that people assist and others don’t do i don’t know how I feel about that as I don’t want to cause more harm than good. Would you assist after 24 hours of trying to internal pip?

Personally I would, yes. I would put just a small safety hole in the air cell, which won't hurt anything even if it's not ready, and then wait and see if the duckling takes it from there.

 

[Tahnee_maree]

This is how it’s looking right now.

 

[Pyxis]

I'd do a small safety hole, just to be, well, safe.

Here's an article that explains how to do it:

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

 

[Tahnee_maree]

I will give it a go.
Thanks for your help!

 

[Pyxis]

Keep us updated

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I will give it a go.
Thanks for your help!

Best of luck!! BTW, @Pyxis very modestly didn't mention that s/he is the author of that excellent and ever so helpful guide to assisting in a hatch. Keep it handy - I do!