How long after eggs start wiggling do they pip? Need advice!

[sabrinaTmartens]

I could really use so advice/information! I have 4 call duck eggs in my incubator. They are currently starting day 23. I have seen all 4 eggs moving and rocking since the day before yesterday ( friday ). Today i saw no movement anymore, but then again i haven't been watching them allot today.

I'm guessing the moving means they are getting in the position to start pipping? When should i except them to pip?

Thanks allot! I could really use some advice and information on this!

 

[XxMingirlxX]

I'm not so sure with duck eggs but I think you just need to be patient, if you are worried or need more info I suggest you read this article on hatching by SallySunshine :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

Hope that helps : )

 

[XxMingirlxX]

I have just checked, duck eggs are supposed to hatch on day 28 starting locking down on the 25th day so you won't have any pips yet!

 

[sabrinaTmartens]

Well call ducks are a small breed of ducks so they take about 25-26 days to hatch i've read. That could definitely explain the wiggling and rocking, but is the eggs moving a sign they are getting ready to hatch?

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Well if that's so then on day 23 should be roughly when lockdown starts, but I don't know about call ducks, I would pm @clousert - he raises call ducks

 

[clousert]

Yes. Calls hatch at 25-26 days so they should be in lockdown right now with humidity around 65%. The wiggling is them getting into position and/or internally pipping. Then they have to take a break and rest before moving onto the next step so it's normal for them to be taking a break. Hatching is a lot of work for them. You should see external pips on day 24-25 and hatching on day 25-26.

 

[sabrinaTmartens]

Yes! That was the advice/information i needed thank you so much! I alway get a bit nervous en easy concearned when it's getting close to hatching day. I have hatched quails and chickens in my incubator before but this is the first time hatching ducks. Also the first time i have ever seen eggs starting to wiggle 3-5 days before their due to hatch. I already put them on lockdown yesterday just to be sure.

 

[clousert]

Yes! That was the advice/information i needed thank you so much! I alway get a bit nervous en easy concearned when it's getting close to hatching day. I have hatched quails and chickens in my incubator before but this is the first time hatching ducks. Also the first time i have ever seen eggs starting to wiggle 3-5 days before their due to hatch. I already put them on lockdown yesterday just to be sure.

Calls can be pretty difficult to hatch at times because of how small they are. Raising the humidity too soon can cause them to get sticky and not be able to get out of their shells. There are other threads on here that discuss hatching calls also.

 

[sabrinaTmartens]

I'll just keep an close eye on them, the moment the first one pips i'll keep an eye on the clock to make sure they don't take 50 or more hours to externally pip so they don't run out of oxygen. I'll also try to keep the humidity between 60-65%. The eggs are still wiggling a bit from time to time but i won't really expect them to pip until at least tuesday. ( today they started day 23).

 

[clousert]

Once they internally pip they only have about 24 hrs of oxygen before they have to pip externally or they will die. I usually make a safe hole after 18 hrs but some wait the whole 24. I definitely wouldn't wait 50 hrs.