Really really fed up :(

[portiaari]

Hi, they hadn't internally pipped, the airsac was still in one piece and they hadn't absorbed their yolks either. Can you advise about the humidity you think for duck eggs?

 

[aprille218]

Hi
I have a pair of Rcom 20s I use for my call duck eggs. I would recommend a humidity meter (hygrometer) even with an Rcom. Both mine were off. Get a good hygrometer the ones I use are actually made for keeping cigars perfect.
Also I'd definately turn down the humidity on your incubator since your eggs are about ready to hatch turn the humidity way down until hatch day. You need to use up quite a bit of moisture fast. I'd say maybe as low as the humidity will go, candle every day to see where the air sacs are at and adjust as needed. Then hatch day up to 50%.
You'll probably still lose some unfortunately. My calls I candle the night they are due to hatch and open a small hole in the air sac end of the egg shell. Sure some hatch okay on their own but the really typey ones seem to always need help.
Hope this helps
Aprille

 

[portiaari]

Thanks Aprille, I've turned the humidity down to 20 which is the lowest it will go, how long do you think it will take to lose that extra moisture. And if I do that now will it affect my 2 eggs that aren't due until 7th april, or should i move them into the smaller brinsea incubator?
These ducklings are mini silver appleyards crossed with either a call duck or another mini silver appleyard.

 

[ChooksChick]

I'd just leave it all the way down even through the hatch day for this batch and the staggered set. You aren't going to get stuck ducklings on this round because the moisture level is so high. When the first one is out it'll crank the humidity up as it dries.

Duck eggs don't necessarily need extra humidity, as the eggs are less porous to begin with. I hatch them in my rcom, but I also use an LG without any water at all until day 19- and I hatch ducks fine.

Hope you get a great hatch with what's left!

 

[portiaari]

Ok thanks, I will leave it low, the airsacs are still really small this morning, i was hoping they'd get bigger over night, the lowest the rcom is able to get it at the moment is 28, although i've set it to 20. It was horrid yesterday having to bury 4 little dead ducklings, I hope I don't end up with more today . Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it. x

 

[pete55]

Hi

Sorry to hear about your results with the ducklings but your experience is teaching you, ready for future sucess. Guess what - I had lots of failures before experience and knowledge all came together and results followed.

All books are a guide only and if thats not working then experiment a little until you find what works best for you

My advice is to incubate them at 37.5 and do not add water to the incubator. Run the humidity as low as it will go. If you get external pipping then cease turning and if you have a spare incubator then place the pipped eggs in this with a riased humidity (lockdown phase). You'd be amazed how large the air cells are at the pipping stage. I've included a link to a thread about Rheas we hatched but take a look at the size of the air cells at pipping time.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=472825

Good luck - Pete

 

[portiaari]

Thanks Pete, oddly I had already looked at your Rheas this morning and I see how tiny my airsacs were, no wonder they had no chance. I really take on board about the humidity, I've taken all water out of the incubator and just hoping for the best. At least the last 2 should be ok as they aren't due for another 10 days. I can't believe I was still misting them once a day in the hatcher, so much learnt in such a short space of time.
Your Rheas are gorgeous! Aren't they meant to be a bit savage/dangerous? I am a wimp mind and my cockerel scares me!

 

[pete55]

Hi there.

Im pleased you looked at the Rhea egg pictures, as no matter what species the egg is from they all follow the same physiological process. Also the Macaw thread I posted shows the air cell size at pipping. We're incubating Toulouse Geese at the moment and they're bu**ers to get rid of sufficient water loss. The aim is 13 -15% weight loss through the incubation period.

The Rheas are wonderful but we've had some odd nips but earrings are the worst, they'll pull them (and your ear) till it hurts

When adults the males will posture and threaten but its easier if you've raised them.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Pete is so right in that it's a learning experience that we need to tweek as we go along. I don't hatch the same way now as I did years ago when I first started out....like I said earlier you can't always "go by the book".

 

[portiaari]

Hope the photo comes out. This egg is due to hatch today I think, it's started moving in the incubator, but the airsac is still so small and there still appears to be alot of fluid around the duckling, can I do anything?
I say I think it's due today because I messed up and mixed the remaining three eggs up by accident, i figure if it's moving it's getting ready to come out?