SelfSufficientMe
Songster
My welsh harlequin and welsh harlequin khaki crosses are due to hatch Sunday 2/25. I checked them on 2/17 and 27 out of 28 were moving but the air cells were not quite as big as they should be so I dropped humidity down by removing water. I thought for sure I’d have plenty of time to lose some water before they went into lockdown. Well I checked a few tonight to see if there had been any progress and I saw shadowing. I took all of the eggs out and removed the turner. I didn’t plan on that until 2/22. While I was removing the eggs I heard chirping in a few. I laid them on their sides properly so now I wait.
I’m unsure how long the ones chirping have been pipped. I’ve only done one other hatch and it was with a crummy, cheap incubator. I do not want a repeat of dead birds.
Should I increase humidity even though air cells aren’t quite where I want them? They’re pretty close though so may be okay. I’ve seen conflicting images online. I don’t want to chance shrinking air cells on eggs that may not be ready.
Perhaps the temperature was uneven throughout the incubator bc not all are shadowing or pipped. Is it highly likely that the ones that may hatch early won’t make it?
Am I safe to assume if there are still live pipped eggs in the morning that I should make air holes?
I don’t want to intervene too soon but I also don’t want to lose ducks. Tough decision.
Thanks for any advice.
I’m unsure how long the ones chirping have been pipped. I’ve only done one other hatch and it was with a crummy, cheap incubator. I do not want a repeat of dead birds.
Should I increase humidity even though air cells aren’t quite where I want them? They’re pretty close though so may be okay. I’ve seen conflicting images online. I don’t want to chance shrinking air cells on eggs that may not be ready.
Perhaps the temperature was uneven throughout the incubator bc not all are shadowing or pipped. Is it highly likely that the ones that may hatch early won’t make it?
Am I safe to assume if there are still live pipped eggs in the morning that I should make air holes?
I don’t want to intervene too soon but I also don’t want to lose ducks. Tough decision.
Thanks for any advice.