Need help with ducks currently trying to hatch.

[RoboDuck]

My Cayugas are starting to join us here in this world. I have one that started pipping this morning and one that is just starting. My wife handles the hatching of all of our birds but can't log on right now and asked me to get help from y'all.

Question 1: What can she do to raise the humidity? She can't get it over 75% even though the pan is full and a wet sponge has been added and an additional small pan of water is in there and she has been misting. Hova-bator 1602 is what she has them in right now.

Question 2: How long before she should intervene in the hatching process and help them clear the egg? She has hatched out lots of chicks but this is our first duck hatch.

Thanks.

 

[carcar80]

Ducks.

Take.

For.

Ever.

 

[carcar80]

I mist, fill my trays, put in sopping wet cloths if needeD, and keep bator closed unless absolutely necessary to open. I have never actually measured my humidity. I just try to keep the viewing window slightly foggy.

Seriously though, they can take forever.

 

[GAMarans]

I know the little buggers take their own sweet time ... just don't want any of his Cayugas to get shrink-wrapped in their shells.

 

[carcar80]

I've never had trouble with it, just as long as you don't open too much you should be fine. "The thread formerly known as hatch day is today", is a fantastic one for duck hatching. Ms Lydia and others are very experienced and you'll get more info from people who DO actually measure their humidity if you want it..

 

[carcar80]

Sounds like you're doing all you can to keep it up. It'll come up more with the pips too as you know.

 

[GAMarans]

I'm just being a mother hen at this point. For shipped eggs, I am shocked at how much movement I have right now. I'm going to be seriously ticked if things go south now, after getting them this far. I know from the Pekin, etc.s I've hatched and from reading/researching that ducks can take up to 3 days from pip to fully out of the shell. I need a good number of these little guys and gals to hatch or roboduck may cry ... and nobody should have to see that.

 

[carcar80]

:shudder:

Indeed... Indeeeeed..

 

[carcar80]

Hatching ducks is the most nerve-wracking thing ever, isn't it? Tell me about how I'll be pleasantly surprised with how less-stressful chicks are!

 

[Llamaguy]

Pretty much all of the 15 ducklings I've hatched have gotten stuck, I think 1 made it out somehow, and the single chicken hatched himself. To raise the humidity you can fold paper towels under the mesh floor to act like a sponge. That and spray warm water on everything.