Muscovy trying to hatch on day 29-30!?!?!?!?!

[princessmama]

I candled tonight to see how my duckies were doing. Looking forward to a nice hatch next week. Well, imagine my surprise when I saw what looked like movement in the air cell of 1, 2, 3! of the eggs. A second look at all showed the third one looking like the duckling is well into the air cell. The cells on these particular eggs seem very large--like one third of the egg.

Any thoughts?

 

[princessmama]

I had a "terrible" thought in the middle of the night...could my purebred muscovys actually be mules/hinnys??? That could explain the early attempt to hatch.

My temp has been between 98.8 to 100.5. Mostly in the 99 range.

Ideas anyone?

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
Do you have non Muscovey drakes around?

I use to have a small flock of Muscoveys and 2 Peking hens.

My Muscovy drake did not discriminate, in fact he preferred Pekin hens, so I hatched a few mules, they grow very fast, are quackless

just like Muscovies, and their meat is GOURMET !!! No fat, plumpy and tender, the best duck meat I ever had.

 

[princessmama]

These are eggs I bought and had shipped to me. I am hoping to start a flock

So, while i'm sure the meat would be great and the cuteness as well, I'd be pretty disappointed.

But I bought them from someone who said they are purebred and I don't have any reason to disbelieve them. I was just having wild middle-of-the-night worries.

I haven't seen any sign of an external pip yet. Does anyone know how long after an internal pip one should see the external pip?