I candled my pekin duck eggs, are they fertile?

[Lynzi777]

There is a lot of information out there on this matter. But you need to find what works best for you.

From my experience (I've been incubator hatching eggs for over 6 years) do NOT use the excessively dirty eggs. Dirty eggs let off bacteria into the warm incubator. SInce eggs are pourus, they can absorb the bacteria which can result in early embryonic death or ducklings that hatch and then get sick and die.

Some people will use a dry cloth or papertowel and try to get all the loose dirt off the eggs.
Some people wash them completely.
Some people will not touch them at all, simply put them in the incubator the way they are.

I always keep dry, clean bedding where the duck will nest or lay. That way the eggs are usually clean and don't require any washing or wiping.
However, I know that sometimes this is not possible!
For the slightly dirty eggs, I wipe with a dry towel. If I can't get everything off, then I run them under LUKE WARM water and wipe with a wet paper towel. Then I set them at room temp (65-70) to dry.
For me, this has always worked. I get an 80-100% hatch rate with almost every batch I incubate.

I did experiment and did a small batch of 8 eggs that were DIRTY DIRTY.
All developed, as expected.
7 hatched (1 had early death). Of the 7, 1 acted weak for the first few weeks but then got better. The rest were perfectly fine. So you can incubate dirty eggs, but I wouldn't recommend it.

I have also read a lot of pros and cons on what to do about dirty hatching eggs - and I agree with you. You have to do what works best for you. I had a hen sitting on 4 eggs last winter inside the house. Those eggs got so dirty one day towards the end, I wanna say day 17 or 18? that I washed them before leaving my hen and eggs alone for "lockdown". Three of those four eggs hatched, so obviously nothing affected them when I ran them under luke warm water to clean them off. (They were really gross!) LOL

 

[StitchMyStars6]

Egg #18 (laid on 12/3) is moving!!!!!!! could it hatch soon?

and everyone is still healthy ^_^

 

[Miss Lydia]

Egg #18 (laid on 12/3) is moving!!!!!!! could it hatch soon?

and everyone is still healthy ^_^

Getting into position. But still a ways to go...

 

[Miss Lydia]

I counted the 28th is that about right? of course depending on temps and humidity it could hatch a few days early or even late.

 

[StitchMyStars6]

Yep!! ^_^ actually #16 (I think) was laid on the 1st of December, so from that point on, it would be the 28th exact. But again, ya never know lol . My sister and I agreed we should name it kringle if its born xmas eve or day hahaha

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep!! ^_^ actually #15 (I think) was laid on the 1st of December, so from that point on, it would be the 28th exact. But again, ya never know lol . My sister and I agreed we should name it kringle if its born xmas eve or day hahaha

Good name.

 

[StitchMyStars6]

#16 & #18 are moving, and #16 looks like it's pipping!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

#18 & #18 are moving, and #16 looks like it's pipping!!

Well my goodness impatient little things aren't they? lol Now you know it can take 24-36 hrs for them to hatch once they start so don't get all worried if you don't notice them popping out right away . They work then rest then work some more then rest, it will drive you crazy.

 

[StitchMyStars6]

Yep it's definitely exciting. I think I can be patient
Should I continue turning them up until it's 3 day standstill?
I'm working half day today, so hopefully I don't miss anything if something does happen lol. I'm having my mom check every few hours, I told her not to open the incubator! Tehe.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep it's definitely exciting. I think I can be patient

Should I continue turning them up until it's 3 day standstill?
I'm working half day today, so hopefully I don't miss anything if something does happen lol. I'm having my mom check every few hours, I told her not to open the incubator! Tehe.

Gosh I don't know for sure about turning I'm thinking once they start to pip you don't but go to the hatch day thread or the call duck hatch thread they mostly use a bator they can give you advise there. Seems I read once they pip they are in position and you don't turn but please don't go by my advise only, you've come to far with them to have something happen now. I'll see if I can find some info too. There is a thread on water fowl incubation in the sticky's at top of duck thread but yesterday I wasn't able to copy and paste at all. still won't let me copy /paste darn. I just read in the incubation guide once your on day 25 they are in position and no turning is necessary. But according to the calendar they aren't on day 25 the anxious lil things. lol better talk to someone experienced with ducklings hatching in a bator. This is why I use my Scovy's Whew!