Poor fertility in Runners?

[MrsHudson221B]

It’s been since late yesterday afternoon. I’m trying to be patient. They seem active, so I’ll let them do their thing and hope for the best. Thanks so much for the reassurance!

I’ve collected a dozen eggs over the weekend that are going in after I get these two moved out. Hoping for better results the second time...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes give them some time to do their own thing, don't want to help too soon it can make things worse. I believe they can breathe fine in the air cell it can take up to 48 hrs from internal to external pip and zip, it takes ducklings a lot longer than chicks to hatch.

 

[WVduckchick]

Are any of your ducks molting? My drakes are going through eclipse molt right now and I haven't seen much mating going on lately. Its not heavy breeding season right now, so maybe they are just taking a break??

And I'm a little confused on the pipped egg. Is the pip on the pointy end, or is it in the air cell?

 

[Miss Lydia]

No molting yet for my Runners or scovy's but some of my chocolate Orpingtons are starting to molt.

 

[MrsHudson221B]

Some of my flock are molting. But, I’ve witnessed breeding activity and also have been noticing at least 2/3 of eggs we’ve been eating are fertilized. Hoping for the best on the collected eggs. My kids love eating them and are pretty angry I’m saving them to set. (They’ll change their little minds when they see the cuties hopping around the incubator!)

The pipped egg is weird... the missing shell is on back end, away from air cell. I guess it kicked hard and busted shell off?? I just looked in the incubator window, and it looks like it finally pipped the air cell end, too. (Must have happened in the last 30 minutes cause I’ve been obsessively checking)

I feel better seeing a pip on the “correct” end.

 

[Miss Lydia]

keep us updated!!

 

[WVduckchick]

Some of my flock are molting. But, I’ve witnessed breeding activity and also have been noticing at least 2/3 of eggs we’ve been eating are fertilized. Hoping for the best on the collected eggs. My kids love eating them and are pretty angry I’m saving them to set. (They’ll change their little minds when they see the cuties hopping around the incubator!)

The pipped egg is weird... the missing shell is on back end, away from air cell. I guess it kicked hard and busted shell off?? I just looked in the incubator window, and it looks like it finally pipped the air cell end, too. (Must have happened in the last 30 minutes cause I’ve been obsessively checking)

I feel better seeing a pip on the “correct” end.

Hopefully the new eggs will do better. And yes, I’m sure the kids will forgive you for not letting them eat the eggs
Glad the one pipped properly. I’ve never seen one knock a piece off the other end if it weren’t malpositioned, so glad it pipped in the right place. Internal to external pip is usually within 24 hours (depending on air cell size) but external pip to zip can take another 48. Usually less, but 40+ hours is not uncommon.
Good luck!

 

[MrsHudson221B]

Just checked the eggs: the second one pipped overnight, and the first is trying to zip. It’s not a beautiful textbook zip, but it is making progress. Now we wait...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yippie!! glad your sitting on your hands lol

 

[MrsHudson221B]

It’s soooooo hard to WAIT!!