URGENT ADVICE NEEDED! Did my ducklings die overnight? PLEASE HELP! 😢

[AmyA248]

PLEASE, I need advice!

Eggs 10, 11, and 12 are 15, 14, and 13 days old. I candled last night and all looked good.
I purchased a better incubator due to all of them passing away at this age.
8 so far.
My girl is 9 months old and has been laying eggs since January 23rd! All fertile but she never went broody. She’s a Muscovy and this is her first clutch. We are up to 27 eggs so far. Another one this morning!

I’m doing everything I possibly can to keep them alive. Reading everything article, making sure the temperature and humidity stays perfect, etc.

Since last night was the first night using my new incubator I didn’t think the humidity would drop since it was very expensive and I filled the tray and went to bed with the humidity at 45%

When I came downstairs this morning the humidity had dipped to 28%!!!
I immediately got it back up and candled my eggs, and I believe 3 passed away!
I’m devastated.

PLEASE, could someone look at my babies??
I’m desperate for advice.

Thank you in advance.

Blessings to all,
Amy

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Duck eggs develop on one side of the egg. Hold off on making any plans to throw out for now.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

It'll be allright! Some people incubate with very little added water, or none at all, for a "dry hatch." Temperature is much more important than humidity. I don't see any obvious quitters in your pics at this point. Give them more time. If I were you, I'd add a second or third thermometer/hygrometer inside the incubator, just to make sure all readings are accurate.

 

[AmyA248]

Duck eggs develop on one side of the egg. Hold off on making any plans to throw out for now.

Hi!

Thank you!
I know that they sometimes go to the side, but could the dip in humidity overnight kill them?
We desperately want these babies and I’m about to have a heart attack!!
I just can’t figure out why they are all dying at this specific age. It keeps happening over and over!
It’s breaking my heart…

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Hi!

Thank you!
I know that they sometimes go to the side, but could the dip in humidity overnight kill them?
We desperately want these babies and I’m about to have a heart attack!!
I just can’t figure out why they are all dying at this specific age. It keeps happening over and over!
It’s breaking my heart…

No, they are fine.
Birth defects can make ducklings die before hatching. Nothing you can do about that.

 

[AmyA248]

It'll be allright! Some people incubate with very little added water, or none at all, for a "dry hatch." Temperature is much more important than humidity. I don't see any obvious quitters in your pics at this point. Give them more time. If I were you, I'd add a second or third thermometer/hygrometer inside the incubator, just to make sure all readings are accurate.

Thank you sooo much!

These babies are so incredibly important to my little girl, as she hand raised the parents and she gets incredibly emotional when they pass away.
I’ve explained to her that these things happen and it’s God’s Will.
Being my female’s first clutch I have read that the eggs could have unforeseen issues.
Do you have any idea why they keep passing away between 14 - 18 days?
I just lost another at 22 days, the farthest we have gotten so far and I really thought he’d make it.

What am I doing wrong???

Blessings and thank you again.

Here are the parents as babies.

 

[AmyA248]

No, they are fine.
Birth defects can make ducklings die before hatching. Nothing you can do about that.

Thank you!!!

So it’s normal to lose so many at that specific time period?
I get them to day 15 - 18 and they pass away.
One passed at day 22.
I currently have a 25 day old and I’m literally holding my breath!!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

A humidity drop overnight will not kill them. There is a reason why experienced hatchers do not collect eggs for hatching for the first 1-2 months after a new hen starts laying. Even if the eggs look fine on the outside and are fertile, eggs from a new layer more often than not have internal imperfections that cause weak embryos that eventually die during development. That's also why many new layers will not sit for the first 1-2 clutches. It's natures way of giving their bodies the time they need to work laying issues out.

 

[mcdze]

imo its not normal ... as mentioned above humidity is a relatively minor factor, but if your humidity is swinging wildly, likely your temp is to and 'that' is a major factor .. get your temp stable and its hard for them 'not' to make it, so as suggested get a couple of digital thermometers in there and check them often, if its swinging in temp more than 1 degree throughout the day and night work on strategy to stabilize it .. different location, surface the bator is on, drafts, etc ...

 

[AmyA248]

imo its not normal ... as mentioned above humidity is a relatively minor factor, but if your humidity is swinging wildly, likely your temp is to and 'that' is a major factor .. get your temp stable and its hard for them 'not' to make it, so as suggested get a couple of digital thermometers in there and check them often, if its swinging in temp more than 1 degree throughout the day and night work on strategy to stabilize it .. different location, surface the bator is on, drafts, etc ...

Hi!

The humidity is not going all over, it varies between 45 - 46% and the temperature is 99 degrees.
I’ve read so much and they ALL contradict each other.
I have a very good incubator and 2 humidity/temperature thermometers. All 3 vary just a tad.
I have read that the first clutch is difficult, but I had to at least give it my very best.
I’m just wondering when she’s going to stop laying. It’s been over a month and she’s still going!
I’m very concerned and confused at this point.

Blessings,
Amy