WHEN TO LOCKDOWN..UNSURE OF SET DATE!

[Ariesmom]

I have 7 duck eggs that I got out of my hens nest after she left it and now it's coming up on an approximate lockdown date although I'm unsure of exactly when she began sitting. How do you know by candling as to when they should stop being turned and put in lockdown? I checked them yesterday and the airsac is huge and lots of movement....I estimated them to be ready by mid next week but I'm afraid I might be wrong and they'll try to hatch before I add humidity and lock them up.....anyone ever have this dilemma before??

 

[Mum]

You may find this sticky helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/491013/goose-incubation-hatching-guide-completed


Personally, it you have a "huge" airsack and "lots of movement", my guess is they will hatch anytime very soon. However, as a caveat, I have limited experience right now. Is the "lots of movement" in the area of the air sac (indicating internal pipping)?

Even if they have "internally pipped" it is not a foregone conclusion they will fully hatch ( I know this because this week, I had an internally pipped duckling and had I not intervened it would never have made it to full hatch alive). There is an argument that you should not intervene with hatching because, to do so, violates the natural rhythm of nature: in other words, by assisting hatch, you force a hatch which *nature* did not intend to happen: Ethics

If they hatch before you believe they should, why would that be a problem?

Clearly any humidity issues would be purely academic and "lock down" simply an afterthought?

Some ducklings hatch early (one of mine hatched 2 days early) and some later (the one I assisted was already on day 30/31!) so there really is no golden rule, merely "guidelines" - which, by definition, makes the whole argument for "lock down" a subjective one

(Like the eggs don't get "moved" by a brooder duck in those last few days? Let's use logic here

) Or, to put it another way: the eggs I monitored, hatched; the ones I didn't interfere with; didnt'!! So, already I have built an experience which sort of contravenes the "lock down" theory

Becasue the one's I did intervene with, hatched

Now, that is simple my limited experience. To guage if that is worthy of your attention, you *must* seek the advice of others so that you have some balance of opinion to base your decision on!. Bear in mind that many individuals have varying experience/knowledge/expertise and that is for you to filter.

Equally you must bear in mind that you (as a keeper of future breeds/eco systems) have a duty to compare and contrast the knowledge you garner from here vs more authoritarian/academic texts.

Perosnally, I think you will be fine and do the right things