[Rupert Bear]

Thanks for your replies to my earlier question and I was sure that I had counted my days correctly.


I bought my duck eggs on 17th July and put them in my polystyrene incubator (my husband and taken over the Brinsea) about 10pm the same night having been told that this would be ok because they have not been through the post.

I calculated that they would be due to hatch weekend just gone.  Are my calculations correct?

I have not removed the eggs which is just as well because I now have 'cheeping'  in 1 or maybe more of these eggs, this was heard clearly at about 11.30pm Monday night.  I can not see any cracks in the eggs at the moment.

How long do you hear this before you get hatching?   Or is it been so long that I won't.  Do I try to force the issue or just leave it?

Incase it matters the eggs are meant to be or could be either or a cross between:-  Mallard, Black Swedish, Cayuga and Khaki Cambell.

How did I also miscalculate?

Any advise again very much appreciated.

[AL Hathaway]

I have it down sunday night early monday as using your time.

but using the poly box i would give it a week longer and dont try and open the eggs trust me you dont want to see a live baby and know it was to early to open the egg and it will die.

[Rupert Bear]

Thanks for that, that makes me feel better.

Is it likely to have broken the air sack? If a chick/duck does how long is it likely to live?

[AL Hathaway]

if it has not pipped as of yet it might be taking a rest but it should have pipped tonight up to 36 hours to hatch out if not in the time frame i would say it's safe to guess it did not make it and if that was the case it may very well had something wrong with it.

or it could have pipped internally and then suffocated

could have been water in the air sack and it drowned

many of number of things can go wrong dont take it to hart.

[Rupert Bear]

Thank you so much for the advice.

I am very happy to report that I have had 1 lovely little yellow and khaki? duck with orange beak and legs any ones guess as to what it is. Hatched Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.   

And am very sad to say that a 2nd little duck with very similar colouring but with black speck beak and black legs who looks healthy in itself is poorly as unable to stand.     Does anyone know of a miracle cure?

A third duck seems to be on its way, a little hole can be seen in shell.   

I might be slowly getting into this after all.