Please I need advice. My muscovy eggs were supposed to hatch today

[Miss Lydia]

It won’t harm them slip a few out and candle. Then report back

 

[autumn_g]

Ok, and I'll try to take a couple of pictures

 

[chickens really]

 

[Miss Lydia]

Also Muscovys can take anywhere from 35-37 days so hopefully ducklings are on the way

 

[Ebony Rose]

Your hen knows if they're viable, she'll toss them out if they're stinkers.

 

[autumn_g]

I'm about to go candle them. I also have been feeding them the layena crumbles, just now switched to flock starter. I've read that can make their shells pretty hard making it difficult for the ducklings to break through. Is that true??

 

[chickens really]

I'm about to go candle them. I also have been feeding them the layena crumbles, just now switched to flock starter. I've read that can make their shells pretty hard making it difficult for the ducklings to break through. Is that true??

Yes it actually is true sometimes.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Your hen knows if they're viable, she'll toss them out if they're stinkers.

That's untrue, in my experience.

My hens will set on golf balls, rocks, and I've had more than one set on eggs that had cracked from being previously frozen. I've had an OEG bantam set an entire nest of rotten eggs, another stay on the nest for at least a week after all of the unhatched chicks died, and a chicken that set her nest for six weeks while I used her as a temporary incubator for three different nests of varying numbers and sizes of eggs.

I have never had a single hen toss out a rotten egg.

 

[autumn_g]

Ok I was able to candle 1 egg. She totally flipped out... I wanted able to get a good pic but I did feel the duckling move and heard a little chirp.

 

[autumn_g]

So if I was to bring the humidity up by spraying her nest area and my hen with some water will that help soften the shells some so they can break through?