Staggered hatch dates

[Gerty0630]

I wouldn’t drop it totally down, 40ish should be fine.
Have you been running 50%+ the whole time? It’s getting pretty late to do much more now. But if you feel comfortable trying, I have taken a sponge, dampened with very warm water, and squeezed almost dry, and rubbed some of the bloom off the eggs. (Happens often with Call ducks, irregular moisture loss). I’ve misted the eggs periodically also, theory is that as the moisture dries, it also pulls more from the inside out. Opens a few pores to release some. This is usually not recommended past the final 4 days though. Pekins worry me a little about being too large to hatch, if their air cells aren’t big enough.
From Storey’s Guide to raising ducks, on misting
View attachment 1692555

I've def read mixed reviews about about spraying them so idk if I am comfortable enough with that lol. If I do try the spray technique - I've read you spray with warm water, then do I put it right back in the incubator or do I leave it out for a bit and then put it back? And how many times a day should I do that? What do you think about the whole pin-hole in the air cell at hatch time to assist with oxygen flow? The cells aren't tiny by any means but they aren't as large as what they should be based upon the charts I've seen.

 

[WVduckchick]

I've def read mixed reviews about about spraying them so idk if I am comfortable enough with that lol. If I do try the spray technique - I've read you spray with warm water, then do I put it right back in the incubator or do I leave it out for a bit and then put it back? And how many times a day should I do that? What do you think about the whole pin-hole in the air cell at hatch time to assist with oxygen flow? The cells aren't tiny by any means but they aren't as large as what they should be based upon the charts I've seen.

Don’t bother with spraying them this time. Just might be something to consider on future hatches, if you can’t get humidity any lower to begin with.
I just take the lid off, quick spray, and replace the lid. I spray upwards, and let it fall on the eggs instead of direct spray.

Pin holes are helpful, but not until you see internal pips. No need to do it prior to that. Usually an internal pip happens, and within 24 hours after that, they externally pip. If they don’t externally pip within 24 hours, then safe holes are good. With smaller air cells, you might consider 18 hours instead of 24. Make sense?

 

[Gerty0630]

Don’t bother with spraying them this time. Just might be something to consider on future hatches, if you can’t get humidity any lower to begin with.
I just take the lid off, quick spray, and replace the lid. I spray upwards, and let it fall on the eggs instead of direct spray.

Pin holes are helpful, but not until you see internal pips. No need to do it prior to that. Usually an internal pip happens, and within 24 hours after that, they externally pip. If they don’t externally pip within 24 hours, then safe holes are good. With smaller air cells, you might consider 18 hours instead of 24. Make sense?

Ok yes all makes sense! Im gonna be a nervous wreck lol. Thank you!

 

[Gerty0630]

Don’t bother with spraying them this time. Just might be something to consider on future hatches, if you can’t get humidity any lower to begin with.
I just take the lid off, quick spray, and replace the lid. I spray upwards, and let it fall on the eggs instead of direct spray.

Pin holes are helpful, but not until you see internal pips. No need to do it prior to that. Usually an internal pip happens, and within 24 hours after that, they externally pip. If they don’t externally pip within 24 hours, then safe holes are good. With smaller air cells, you might consider 18 hours instead of 24. Make sense?

Update update! Day 23 egg. With the humidity being down to 46% for the past 24 hours, my air cells are looking much better tonight! Phew!!

 

[WVduckchick]

Update update! Day 23 egg. With the humidity being down to 46% for the past 24 hours, my air cells are looking much better tonight! Phew!!

Those are drawing down. Go ahead and bump the humidity up fairly soon. They should be internally pipping within the next 12-24 hours.

 

[Gerty0630]

Those are drawing down. Go ahead and bump the humidity up fairly soon. They should be internally pipping within the next 12-24 hours.

Omg seriously??! How could that be, that would be 4 days early?? They werent like that last night! And the other 2 eggs air cells arent nearly the size they need to be! I need an adult, im freakin out now!! Lol

 

[WVduckchick]

Omg seriously??! How could that be, that would be 4 days early?? They werent like that last night! And the other 2 eggs air cells arent nearly the size they need to be! I need an adult, im freakin out now!! Lol

Sorry! Didn’t mean to freak you out. It may not be that close, but it could be. Once they start drawing down, which your pictures look like they are, it’s usually not far afterward. The second pic looks moreso than the first pic. And there is still a lot of wait time between now and hatch, but the drawdown is the kicker indication that it’s starting.

 

[WVduckchick]

Went back to the pics, so you may have to correct me. Does the air cell look “out of round”? Not just tilted, but does the lower part look like it’s gravitating toward the fat end of the egg more than it was? Or is it just shadow from the flashlight I’m seeing??

 

[Gerty0630]

Went back to the pics, so you may have to correct me. Does the air cell look “out of round”? Not just tilted, but does the lower part look like it’s gravitating toward the fat end of the egg more than it was? Or is it just shadow from the flashlight I’m seeing??

Oh no that was a completely flat egg! So what do you think re lockdown now? In theory that eggs lockdown date should be friday. But with what youve said about the draw down and knowing the other 2 eggs still need to lose some moisture, when do you think to lockdown? Thank you so much for continuing to help me lol first timers anxiety

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh no that was a completely flat egg! So what do you think re lockdown now? In theory that eggs lockdown date should be friday. But with what youve said about the draw down and knowing the other 2 eggs still need to lose some moisture, when do you think to lockdown? Thank you so much for continuing to help me lol first timers anxiety

Wow, I’m so sorry!! After you mentioned the day (sorry I lost track) I thought maybe I was seeing wrong. Whew!

Go back to the original plan, keep the humidity lower until Friday. Unless you see that air cell start getting out of shape.

It does look much better size now though!