Starlin
In the Brooder
- Jun 26, 2018
- 17
- 38
- 41
Hi there! We have been keeping Indian Runner Ducks for about 3 years and just bought an incubator for the first time this year. We gathered 16 eggs, of which 12 were developing nicely at 14 days. Yesterday was day 28 and one of the babies started trying to bust out, much to our delight. In the morning there was a second spot with missing shell, but during the day no further progress.
I know ducks can take up to 48 hours to hatch, but I'm concerned for a few reasons. The membrane is thick, unpierced, and yellow/grey. Also, the first things I read when we started the incubator said to have the humidity at 65% for the first 25 days, so the egg may have gotten too much moisture. This is borne out by the fact that it's day 29 and only a couple of other eggs have even started. And lastly, I just can't seem to get the humidity above 70 now. So I'm misting regularly and trying to keep their room warm and moist so that opening the incubator to do that doesn't cause too much disruption.
I used a Q-Tip to dab coconut oil onto the exposed membrane, and since then a few more bits of shell have been knocked loose. So I'm still hopeful that the baby can do this on their own. But I'm wondering at what point I should add a safety hole, and also if anyone has opinions to offer about the humidity and whether I should approach hatching differently if that's a concern.
The baby is cheeping occasionally and moving around, though not enough that you can see it- I have to be holding the egg to tell. I assume that means it has internally pipped? I tried candling but wasn't entirely sure- I could see it moving, though, which seems like a sign that it has more room. I suck at candling, though, and can't tell position or anything like that. The air sac is at least near the bits with missing shell.
The other reason I'm jumping the gun a is that we're approaching day 30 and only a couple of other eggs have even started, so I suspect this egg may be setting the tone for the rest of the hatch.
Pic 1 is before adding coconut oil, pic 2 is about an hour after. Pic 3 is to thank you for reading this far, and is of the mamas outdoors, who apparently were not told that Indian Runners can't raise babies, and 4 is a tiny momma-hatched baby.
I've been having trouble attaching the images so I'm crossing my fingers as I post.
I know ducks can take up to 48 hours to hatch, but I'm concerned for a few reasons. The membrane is thick, unpierced, and yellow/grey. Also, the first things I read when we started the incubator said to have the humidity at 65% for the first 25 days, so the egg may have gotten too much moisture. This is borne out by the fact that it's day 29 and only a couple of other eggs have even started. And lastly, I just can't seem to get the humidity above 70 now. So I'm misting regularly and trying to keep their room warm and moist so that opening the incubator to do that doesn't cause too much disruption.
I used a Q-Tip to dab coconut oil onto the exposed membrane, and since then a few more bits of shell have been knocked loose. So I'm still hopeful that the baby can do this on their own. But I'm wondering at what point I should add a safety hole, and also if anyone has opinions to offer about the humidity and whether I should approach hatching differently if that's a concern.
The baby is cheeping occasionally and moving around, though not enough that you can see it- I have to be holding the egg to tell. I assume that means it has internally pipped? I tried candling but wasn't entirely sure- I could see it moving, though, which seems like a sign that it has more room. I suck at candling, though, and can't tell position or anything like that. The air sac is at least near the bits with missing shell.
The other reason I'm jumping the gun a is that we're approaching day 30 and only a couple of other eggs have even started, so I suspect this egg may be setting the tone for the rest of the hatch.
Pic 1 is before adding coconut oil, pic 2 is about an hour after. Pic 3 is to thank you for reading this far, and is of the mamas outdoors, who apparently were not told that Indian Runners can't raise babies, and 4 is a tiny momma-hatched baby.
I've been having trouble attaching the images so I'm crossing my fingers as I post.
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I hope you guys don't mind that I tag you when I see something like this btw!
