Shell of air cell has become dark, is this normal? - day 25 duck eggs

[Charlotto333]

I am now on day 25 and have just removed off turner and placed on hatching grid for lockdown. Plus filled second water reservoir and reduced temp from 37.7 to 37.2 (as per the Borotto incubator instructions). Yesterday, it appeared a lot of my eggs were already shadowing in air cell, which did make me a bit concerned as to whether I should have lockdown a day early? And today, some have definitely internally pipped, making audible chirping. However, is it normal when they have internally pipped, for the shading of the air cell shell to become dark? Is this just the ducks body shading? I’ll attach a photo. There’s also another egg that looks like it is bruised on the shell, but I’m hopeful this is a good sign that it is trying to externally pip ?

Also, i should have asked before lockdown, but is there a preferable position when laying eggs down on grid for hatching? Is it best to lay them with the dropped down air cell resting on bottom, or placed with the bulk of the air cell facing upwards? It might sound silly, as I’m guessing in a day or so, they start rolling about anyway, but thought I’d ask anyway.

Thanks in advance anyone!

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

I am now on day 25 and have just removed off turner and placed on hatching grid for lockdown. Plus filled second water reservoir and reduced temp from 37.7 to 37.2 (as per the Borotto incubator instructions). Yesterday, it appeared a lot of my eggs were already shadowing in air cell, which did make me a bit concerned as to whether I should have lockdown a day early? And today, some have definitely internally pipped, making audible chirping. However, is it normal when they have internally pipped, for the shading of the air cell shell to become dark? Is this just the ducks body shading? I’ll attach a photo. There’s also another egg that looks like it is bruised on the shell, but I’m hopeful this is a good sign that it is trying to externally pip ?

Also, i should have asked before lockdown, but is there a preferable position when laying eggs down on grid for hatching? Is it best to lay them with the dropped down air cell resting on bottom, or placed with the bulk of the air cell facing upwards? It might sound silly, as I’m guessing in a day or so, they start rolling about anyway, but thought I’d ask anyway.

Thanks in advance anyone!

I've heard that as long as the bruised spot is over the Air Cell, it is likely just the Duck attempting to externally pip.

 

[Charlotto333]

I've heard that as long as the bruised spot is over the Air Cell, it is likely just the Duck attempting to externally pip.

Oh ok thanks, it is within air cell area. What about the other egg with darkened air cell shell? Before I placed at lockdown this morning, I did candle them all, and all are moving, including the darkened one. But just wondering whether it’s a sign it’s blood vessels are dying or it’s struggling to breathe too much. If it’s still moving though, it’s still fine right? I’ll kick myself though, if it ends up dying having run out of oxygen and I didn’t do a safety hole for it, whilst it still had a chance.

 

[SnackMeat]

At day 25 you should be fine, but if you're worried, a pinhole in each egg shouldn't be an issue.

Duck eggs are a whole 'nother type of nail biting compared to chicken eggs. I'll hopefully be where you are at in 2 weeks.

 

[Charlotto333]

At day 25 you should be fine, but if you're worried, a pinhole in each egg shouldn't be an issue.

Duck eggs are a whole 'nother type of nail biting compared to chicken eggs. I'll hopefully be where you are at in 2 weeks.

Yes I'm starting to realise that... this is my first time incubating anything. Update by the way, about 3 hours after my post, the darkened egg has since pipped its shell, so phew,it can breathe at least. It's the first out of 13 to pip.