New to hatching - just looking for advice/reassurance!

[Hollyelliott]

Hi all,

So, I'm completely new to hatching, and have 2 Aylesbury duck eggs in the Janoel-10 mini incubator. From day 3, I saw very distinctive veins and they appear to have developed exactly as they should so far.

I'm now on day 20, and there is a lot of movement when I candle, the veins are huge, and to be honest, I can't see a great deal now but a dark area, the air cell and some veins.

I got the eggs shipped, and one of them has the 'saddle' shaped air cell. It is moving and appears to be developing exactly the same as the other. I am slightly worried about the size of the air cells on both eggs, so have lowered the humidity, which is evening out at 25% now (I've had it averaging 45% since I got them) Also, they haven't lost the necessary amount of weight (I read approx 14% throughout the whole incubation) Egg 1 started at 80g and is now 73g, Egg 2 started at 85g and is now 80g. Temperature has stayed very stable throughout.

I guess I need to know if lowering the humidity will give the eggs time to lose weight/increase the air cell size with 8-days to go? Or people's opinions on how the currently look?

Also, will the one with he saddle-shaped cell need any different care nearer hatching?

I appreciate any advice! It's exciting and nerve racking all at the same time!

Thanks i advance,

Liz

 

[chickens really]

The air cells do need to get bigger...Keep watching over the next couple of days..Personally I have never had a saddle shaped air cell. Best wishes.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I agree although the air cell does grow a lot during the last week, so don’t lower it too much. I also have never had a saddle shaped one. They look healthy and great! Keep us posted!

 

[CrystaBub]

You came to the right place - all of the BYC friends are amazing and have talked me through my new duck Mom role! Good luck!

 

[Hollyelliott]

Thank you for your replies! I just want to make sure I'm doing everything the best way I can! I am so excited and so nervous! Humidity is averaging at 30% today, and I have drawn a faint line on the outside to monitor any changes/growth. I'm going to be completely stressed when we reach hatching time!!

 

[chickens really]

The normal eggs air cell looks right to me so you can up the humidity a bit because they will get bigger and you don't want to lose to much..

 

[Hollyelliott]

Now I’m getting pretty worried. Day 21, and just checked the air cells, which have grown in the last two days. Humidity averaging 45%, but this evening I can see the strange point pushing into the air cell area, and it’s wiggling like crazy. I’d this normal? Temperature holding perfectly.
Thanks.

 

[Ms Biddy]

Oh my gosh, is that an internal pip?!

 

[Hollyelliott]

That’s what I’m really worried about!!! I’m on day 21...
I was sure from what I’ve read it meant this one was internal pipping. It’s moving like crazy. There’s also some shadowing in the egg with the saddle air cell. Do I go into lockdown now? Increase the humidity to 70%?
I’m so worried as it’s way too early?

 

[Hollyelliott]

The normal air cell egg is rocking... only slightly, be definitely loving. I’m very worried now. I’ve upped the humidity to 70%. I put them in to incubate on the 29th April. 21 full days.
This pic is if the saddle air cell egg.
I have been extremely careful all the way through incubation to ensure correct temps and humidity, and turned several times per day.