Day 24 of incubation and ducks are in air cells...?

Question

Today was the last day that I turned the eggs so I candled them to see if there was any movement inside of the eggs. All of the ducks had their beaks in the air cell already and a couple looked like they had their entire heads in there. Now I'm thinking I may have just suffocated them by turning the eggs when they were already breathing. They weren't supposed to do this for 2 more days. What are the chances that I suffocated them? And why do some of them have their entire heads in the air cell? And also none of them have made any noise that I have heard.

I'm not touching them anymore until they hatch but I hope they are still alive! Temp and humidity are good and set for the hatch.

Answer 1

That is normal, they should be fine, it will probably take at least 48 hours or more for them to hatch though. The mother duck would disturb the eggs somewhat just getting on and off of them anyway. Whatever you do, don't help them out unless all but 1 hatches or something, then you could try to help.

Answer 2

your chances that you suffocated them are slim because i once had mine on automatic turners and they hatched while i was away on the turner.    there heads being in the air cell is a good thing because it means there getting ready to pip.    if there beaks are in the air cell that means they will be pipping out of the large side which is good!!! good luck with them they are really fun to pip

Answer 3

Stay out of the incubator or you will ruin the humidity which is important for the babies to hatch out. Remember it could take as long as 48 or more hours for them to hatch out. Don't worry about some being long to hatch out.

What kind of ducks do you have that are hatching at 24 days?