PLEASE HELP HATCHING DUCKS

[lslauds]

Okay, first time hatcher here, and here's the story.
Today is the 26th day and yesterday around 1-2:00 PM was when the egg first pipped. It has now been over 24 hours and it has made progress, but for the last 2-3 hours it hasn't made anymore progress. Is this normal? I'm using a still air incubator and the temperature is reading at 100.2 and the humidity is at 53%. I just thought of putting a humidifier in the room, so that should help. So what should I do? Should I just wait and see? Should I help the little guy?

 

[MissPrissy]

In a still air incubator the temperature at the top of the eggs should be 101 - 102. Your temps are low. It is hard to believe that such a small degree can make a huge difference but it does.

I always keep my humidity at 45% from day 1 - 18. At the end of day 18 I boost the humidity to 70%. They need this moisture to be able to hatch around day 21.

You have an extendly late pip/hatch due to low temps. Any developmental problems or hatching failures may be due to the humidity and low temps through the incubation and low humidity during the essential 3 day hatching period.

You can candle your eggs and look for movement or shadows or see if they have pipped the air cell.

I really don'tknow what to tell you other than that.

When you feel it is over you can crack a few open to see if you can see the problems.

Don't give up if this hatch is a failure. Try again. There is always something to learn from a hatch.

The learning center has some good info on a dry hatch method you might want to read.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I wouldn't open the bator if your only on day 21 and your temps have been low...your pip is really not that far along, it can take up to 24 hours and longer for them to pip and zip out... I've had hatches that took as long as day 25....

Opening your bator at this stage will make your temps and humidity go lower, just because they seem to rise back up quickly doesn't make for a good hatch....

 

[ChicknThief]

Tuff, she is on day 26.... Man oh man I don't know what to tell ya hon...

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I didn't see that part!!. Thanks ChicknThief....I got hatching on the brain today... I would candle then, doesn't look good but with low temps you never know..

 

[lslauds]

...it died..

Thanks for the advice though.
I have another question, so now I have another egg and it's 26th day with be on April 23rd
So, I put a humidifier in the room plus filled the water troughs at the bottom on the bator and six sponges. And the humidity is still reading 53%, so I want to make this right so hopfully the next one won't go through such a tragedy. Any ideas/advice?

 

[4boysmom]

What kind of eggs are you hatching?

 

[MissPrissy]

When properly incubated your chicks should hatch on or near day 21. If I am counting your days correctly your chicks should be due to hatch tomorrow. Do you have eggs that were set on different days? Why are you counting to day 26? With low temps and the humidity off I couldn't even begin to predict what will happen with any other eggs you are incubating.

 

[Poison Ivy]

What kind of hygrometer are you using? If you added water & sponges it should have went up.

 

[lslauds]

I got it from Petsmart, I think it's actually for reptiles..