[flangey]

Hello,  I'm not known to be the most patient person in the world  but I'm hatching my first Mini Silver Appleyard ducklings, and the 28 days were up on Monday of this week.  All eggs were fertile when candled, but there's still no sign of any movement.  Is it normal for them to be late? I know there'll probably arrive when they're good and ready, but I just wanted to check.

[joyfull]

some duck eggs take up to 35 days to hatch but I don't know about your breed sorry 

[flangey]

Thanks Joyfull, I'll stop being so impatient, it's all just very exciting! 

[Kate and her Ducks]

I'm afraid minature Appleyards are not one of the breeds that take 35 days to hatch. Have you had no signs at all? They can be a little late (or early in the case of mine!) but should be wobbling or cheeping by now. You can candle them to see if they have internally pipped into the air sac but if there is no signs I would fear the worst.

I hope it is good news. Ducklings are the best!

[flangey]

Thanks kate, I'll try candling, I think you're right, it may not happen this time.  I've got another five due next Monday, so fingers crossed for those.  I'll keep you posted.

[joyfull]

Please do, can you get hold of any day old or very young ducklings to put under mum or are they in an incubator?

[Kate and her Ducks]

Does sound like they have died in shell. My first lot did this after internally pipping and startign to wobble which was very upsetting.

Did you stop turning at day 25 and increase the temp?

[flangey]

hello, they're in the incubator, I stopped turning on Friday and turned up the temperature, will be off to candle them in a mo, fingers crossed that the next batch will be ok.  Thanks for all the advice though, I'll keep you posted.

[Kate and her Ducks]

All my books tell me to turn down the temp from 37.5 during the first 25 days to 37C for the final 3 days. If is the humidity that goes up. I would suggest turning down the temp and see if that makes a difference. You should start hearing things or seeing them wobble o er the weekend.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you, it's nerve wracking!!!

[Kate and her Ducks]

Any signs of anything this week? Keeping my fingers crossed for better luck for you than last week.