New mom for 4 abandoned duck eggs. I really need help!

[AmyA248]

This is a tough stage to see movement and veins. They look like they are getting close to hatch day. You can wait until you see a shadow and or a breathing duckling when candleing to lockdown or just start lockdown now. You want them to be locked down before any external pips.
The veins usually disappear shortly after a duckling dies or when the live duckling is ready to come all the way out of the egg. (They still have veins when they externally pip).

Thank you so much! I just candled them this morning and no piping but still movement and the air sacs got huge overnight. When I tap on them I see movement. It’s very difficult because they are squashed.
So they CAN still have veins? They are barely there, 3 have 95 % of their veining gone, the biggest one has just a few left.
So you think I should put them in lockdown? I shouldn’t open the top at lockdown so how will I known if they pip or are struggling? I’m so nervous!
So they have to go into lockdown BEFORE they internally pip?
I truly appreciate your help, Im really trying to do everything right and I made it this far and I don’t want to lose any at the end..

 

[swampfox440]

Hi, welcome to BYC! pleased to meet you and thanks for joining us. Good luck with your hatch. Baby wood ducks like live food when it's time to feed them. I have used cut up red worms and tiny mealworms to help stimulate feeding. Are you sure they are wood ducks? Was the nest on the ground or in a tree cavity?

 

[AmyA248]

Hi, welcome to BYC! pleased to meet you and thanks for joining us. Good luck with your hatch. Baby wood ducks like live food when it's time to feed them. I have used cut up red worms and tiny mealworms to help stimulate feeding. Are you sure they are wood ducks? Was the nest on the ground or in a tree cavity?

Hi,
Pleased to meet you as well!
The nest was in a hollowed out dead tree in our far back yard by our pond.
I spotted the nest right away and was immediately worried because we have a lot of wildlife on our property. When the eggs were approximately 14 days old I noticed screaming in the middle of the night and I just knew. My husband ran outside with his gun but it was too late. Of course I cried at the carnage and the loss of 4 of the eggs.
I immediately took the remaining eggs, candled them and saw they were viable and about 13 days old. I’ve been incubating for 16 days and made sure everything was perfect. I must with warm water and candle every other day because I’m terrified I’ll lose one.
They move when I tap very slightly, but their definitely alive.
Do you think I should put them in lockdown or wait a few more days?
Temp.is 37.5 c. and humidity is 60.
What do I change it to upon lockdown if you don’t mind me asking. Any information would be most appreciated!

 

[Yardmom]

It sounds like the air cells are drawing down. If they were my eggs I would put them in lockdown. Lockdown does not have to happen before internal pip, you could wait until you see the first one. It does need to happen before external pip or the membrane could dry out. I have never hatched wood ducks, but 65 percent humidity has worked for me on other duck type species. Hopefully someone who has hatched wood ducks can confirm if that is good.

 

[Seth140]

Hi!
I’m brand new to this great forum. I am incubating 4 wood duck eggs who’s mama was killed by a fox. They have been growing and thriving for 16 days. The problem is that I don’t know their exact age. Through research and candying I believe that they were 12-15 days old.
I’m getting very concerned because they have not piped yet, and it takes me awhile to find movement.
Their egg sacks look great and they have soaked up all their amniotic fluid.
I don’t know when to stop turning and begin lockdown.
I’m hoping someone with experience could possibly help me! It would be a true blessing because I’ve grown to love these babies!
Thank you so much for any advice or suggestions.

Very kindly,
Amy

Amy
I’m no expert but have hatched about 20 Ancona babies and what I would do is keep your heat up, if u have an auto rotator shut it off, manually turn them when u can. Spray with water, if air sacks right where they should be and it looks like they are Let GOD do his work !! They don’t really need us, the little ones know what they are doing…keep me posted