Update on my duck eggs.

[Enigmius]

Todays update.
I know I was told not to candle everyday, but I rigged a dark box next to the incubator, and I am moving the eggs very gingerly. I have to take them out to mist them anyhow. I still don't have a mister, instead I wore surgical gloves, placed the eggs in an egg carton, and painted them(with a very light touch) using q-tips as my applicator(figured there won't be oils there) with room temp filtered water. I allowed them to dry/cool and placed them gingerly back inside.

I had to remove three eggs. These were dated 6/11, 6/14, and 6/15. These eggs have no veins, spot, or development inside. They must have been infertile since I have eggs on 6/17 that are displaying development. This leaves me with a total of 15 eggs. There might be another infertile egg in there, so...

The air cells are advancing but not as much as I would like on the older eggs, even though I've only started the "misting" process yesterday. Hopefully I'll see some improvement in the next couple of days. The humidity is set down to the 30's. The younger eggs look about right though. Im going today to buy the lock-down incubator with two Taylor thermometers and hydrometers. I want to test a couple methods for stable humidity control before the day of lock down.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Todays update.
I know I was told not to candle everyday, but I rigged a dark box next to the incubator, and I am moving the eggs very gingerly. I have to take them out to mist them anyhow. I still don't have a mister, instead I wore surgical gloves, placed the eggs in an egg carton, and painted them(with a very light touch) using q-tips as my applicator(figured there won't be oils there) with room temp filtered water. I allowed them to dry/cool and placed them gingerly back inside.

I had to remove three eggs. These were dated 6/11, 6/14, and 6/15. These eggs have no veins, spot, or development inside. They must have been infertile since I have eggs on 6/17 that are displaying development. This leaves me with a total of 15 eggs. There might be another infertile egg in there, so...

The air cells are advancing but not as much as I would like on the older eggs, even though I've only started the "misting" process yesterday. Hopefully I'll see some improvement in the next couple of days. The humidity is set down to the 30's. The younger eggs look about right though. Im going today to buy the lock-down incubator with two Taylor thermometers and hydrometers. I want to test a couple methods for stable humidity control before the day of lock down.

Sounds like you are on top of things!!! I really hope that all of your hard work pays off with beautiful ducklings that are the babies of your lost drake!

 

[Enigmius]

Sounds like you are on top of things!!! I really hope that all of your hard work pays off with beautiful ducklings that are the babies of your lost drake!

Thank you! Oh, I hope so too!!

 

[Enigmius]

All the infertile eggs were pulled today. Total now is 12 fertile eggs with life inside. Aircells are getting larger, still slower than I want for the older eggs. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

All the infertile eggs were pulled today. Total now is 12 fertile eggs with life inside. Aircells are getting larger, still slower than I want for the older eggs. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Enigmius]

The ducklings are still alive in their eggs.. The air cells are still growing.

I was able to stabilize the lockdown-incubator at 70% humidity by only using three sponges(no water in reservoir). This again is only a practice. No eggs are in the lockdown yet; although it is getting close for some of them.

Like I said earlier I didn't record the exact date of the eggs from the first week. I don't know the exact date, only that they were harvested from 6/4--6/7/19. So they could literally be anywhere from 18-21 days old. I harvested them one by one and they sat on my kitchen counter for a couple days. They were all put in the incubator on the same day however, on 6/7/19. These eggs are getting very hard to candle btw..They are so dark inside..

I've been spending my morning reading over hatch problems and when/how to assist when problems arise. Since this is going to be my first hatch, and because I was most likely doing it wrong at the beginning, I want to be extra prepared.

I do want to know if I should hatch them upright in an egg carton(inside the lock down incubator) or just on their side without a stabilizer. Ive read conflicting results.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

The ducklings are still alive in their eggs.. The air cells are still growing.

I was able to stabilize the lockdown-incubator at 70% humidity by only using three sponges(no water in reservoir). This again is only a practice. No eggs are in the lockdown yet; although it is getting close for some of them.

Like I said earlier I didn't record the exact date of the eggs from the first week. I don't know the exact date, only that they were harvested from 6/4--6/7/19. So they could literally be anywhere from 18-21 days old. I harvested them one by one and they sat on my kitchen counter for a couple days. They were all put in the incubator on the same day however, on 6/7/19. These eggs are getting very hard to candle btw..They are so dark inside..

I've been spending my morning reading over hatch problems and when/how to assist when problems arise. Since this is going to be my first hatch, and because I was most likely doing it wrong at the beginning, I want to be extra prepared.

I do want to know if I should hatch them upright in an egg carton(inside the lock down incubator) or just on their side without a stabilizer. Ive read conflicting results.

Hi Enigmius! Hatching horizontal or vertical is probably not “settled science”; people do both. I kept my one batch on their side for both incubation and hatching. I’d put your set into lockdown at the date that would accommodate your oldest egg.

You should join the June - July Hatch along!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/21443230
We are just finishing up with the June hatch along and many people there hatched duck eggs. I think that will be true for the June-July hatch along as well. There are people there with loads more hatching experience than I have. I also wanted to get you contact info for duck hatching experts that could help you through with any specific hatching assists, put the “@“ before their name and they are tagged on a post, or you can message directly.
casportpony
WVduckchick
LilyD
CluckNDoodle

 

[Enigmius]

Hi Enigmius! Hatching horizontal or vertical is probably not “settled science”; people do both. I kept my one batch on their side for both incubation and hatching. I’d put your set into lockdown at the date that would accommodate your oldest egg.

You should join the June - July Hatch along!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/21443230
We are just finishing up with the June hatch along and many people there hatched duck eggs. I think that will be true for the June-July hatch along as well. There are people there with loads more hatching experience than I have. I also wanted to get you contact info for duck hatching experts that could help you through with any specific hatching assists, put the “@“ before their name and they are tagged on a post, or you can message directly.
casportpony
WVduckchick
LilyD
CluckNDoodle

Aw! Thank you so much. I will be doing joining that hatch-along, and if I need help during hatching I will try to connect with those mentioned. Again you have been so very helpful. I appreciate it greatly.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Aw! Thank you so much. I will be doing joining that hatch-along, and if I need help during hatching I will try to connect with those mentioned. Again you have been so very helpful. I appreciate it greatly.

You’re welcome! I’m done with my June chicks (I had a sadly disappointing hatch last weekend) but still have guinea fowl eggs that I’m hoping will hatch in early to mid July. Hopefully I’ll see you on the June-July hatch along thread and get to see pics of your beautiful new babies!!!