PLEASE HELP!! Pics of Duck eggs. Hatch is close.

[5Chances]

Please see pictures. First two are egg 6 and last one is egg 1.

I am pretty much desperate at this point. I tried posting to the incubating forum but I'm not getting any replies and I really could use some help. My Pekin is setting 4 eggs. This is her first time and these are all the viable eggs left after all these MANY weeks. I was uncertain when her incubation started. I thought 4/28 but after learning to candle and compare to development stages I think it was more like after 5/5...

So up until 5/31 all was well. 5/30 everyone was moving. 1 & 6 seemed to be the soonest to hatch with 3, then 4 slightly behind... 5/31 all of a sudden 3 has no movement, and as I turned the egg it was like I could see a jiggle of the inside. But no movement when held still. I figured it quit Then with 1&6 I noticed the air sac had grown from last measure on 5/29 but I wasn't sure I was seeing any movement. Checked them yesterday- 6/1- and 1&6 are very full with a small amount of clear space, in which I don't really see any veins and I'm not seeing movement. 4 was still looking good and the air sac had gotten a little bigger today...

My question is (please see pics) I THINK these eggs are are around 24-25-26 days (???) but with eggs like this should I be able to see movement??? At what point is the egg too full to see movement? Is it possible they are moving in the center of the egg and it would not be obvious to me?? I'm so worried they died. We had a horrible rain storm here 5/30 &5/31. Ethel did not put her nest in an ideal spot she has cover over the top but rain still blows in. She has been a great mom- so very dedicated. I know she sat on them all through those storms but wondering if the environment did them in

I never expected a Pekin to go broody but she sure did... I have babies her and these eggs so much. I don't know much about duck eggs and it seems like chicken egg info is the most popular it's not helping me. Anyone that can help me know if I've lost them or what to do... I appreciate your time.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I can't see movement in a photo. To me they look dead because they aren't filled up to the air cell. I would smell them, they should stink if no good. Otherwise you can leave them longer. If they got submerged in water they would die. I'm unfamiliar with regular duck eggs and the length of incubation, so I don't know what day you are on, I only have muscovy.

 

[chickens really]

Leave them and stop interfering in the hatch...Momma will hatch them....Your causing the eggs to get cold and lose humidity...Birds have been hatching eggs long before man started interfering....

 

[mustang56]

I'm with chickens really.... leave them be... =)

 

[5Chances]

No they don't smell. No they did not get submerged in water. The reason I am checking them is because 1) she started this broody business back on April 13 when she first started laying. I have been concerned for HER health as she has been steadily setting since April 28. She had 22 eggs at one point. Obviously she could not hatch 22 eggs. So I was told by multiple people to candle them as rotten eggs could contaminate the whole nest. We are down to four.

All I asked was what an egg should look like at this stage because I'm not sure when they started the incubating process. Excuse me for trying to learn something new & check on the health of my animals.

 

[mustang56]

No need to get upset at those trying to help....
If you keep picking up the eggs they lose the heat they need to hatch....
and you might stop them from hatching and they will die in the egg...
I believe if you don't pick the eggs up the way they lay, I think its possible you may
confused the chick... He's in one position and then you move it...?
Hope they hatch... to me they look alive, but I would leave them alone..

 

[casportpony]

No they don't smell. No they did not get submerged in water. The reason I am checking them is because 1) she started this broody business back on April 13 when she first started laying. I have been concerned for HER health as she has been steadily setting since April 28. She had 22 eggs at one point. Obviously she could not hatch 22 eggs. So I was told by multiple people to candle them as rotten eggs could contaminate the whole nest. We are down to four.

All I asked was what an egg should look like at this stage because I'm not sure when they started the incubating process. Excuse me for trying to learn something new & check on the health of my animals.

Good news... Candling her eggs as you are doing will do no harm unless you drop them or crack them.

Bad news... They don't look quite right to me, but I've been wrong before, so the best thing to do is let her sit on them for another week, then re-candle.

 

[5Chances]

No need to get upset at those trying to help....
If you keep picking up the eggs they lose the heat they need to hatch....
and you might stop them from hatching and they will die in the egg...
I believe if you don't pick the eggs up the way they lay, I think its possible you may
confused the chick... He's in one position and then you move it...?
Hope they hatch... to me they look alive, but I would leave them alone..

Well, I apologize but it did upset me, I was just trying to ask for some help and everyone seemed to be telling me I was hurting my eggs which I don't see how because people who incubate candle their eggs. I am always careful to place them as they were in the nest as I figure Ethel knows best how they should set. Because I'm not sure of exactly how old they are and because she is outside although in a pen, I'm concerned about when to expect them to hatch. I don't want them to hatch and something get them or them wander through the pen panels & get away from her. So I was just trying to keep an eye on them to know if I need to move them inside for safety.

 

[mustang56]

I believe all the handling she's doing.... is not good ... sorry I disagree...

 

[5Chances]

Thank you. I have actuall

Good news... Candling her eggs as you are doing will do no harm unless you drop them or crack them.

Bad news... They don't look quite right to me, but I've been wrong before, so the best thing to do is let her sit on them for another week, then re-candle.

Thank you. I wondered but I actually saw slight shadowy movement so I feel better. The only reason I have candled so much was because I was worried after all the rain and her nest getting so damp from the rain blowing in and then I didn't see movement but they appeared to be getting larger. If it is safe to leave her for another week I will do that. Thank you again.