Hatching Duck Eggs Part 2: The Part Nobody Talks About

I thought the hardest part of hatching duck eggs would be waiting.

Turns out, I was wrong.

After spending days checking heartbeats, watching tiny veins grow, and getting completely attached to our little flock of future ducklings, we reached the point where we had to remove the eggs that had stopped developing. It wasn’t something I was looking forward to, but it was an important part of the experience.

Before we jump in, hi! I’m Jessica, a maternity, birth, and family photographer based in Beaumont, Alberta serving Edmonton and the surrounding communities. I’m a mama to two girls, a lover of meaningful family memories, and someone who’s apparently become very emotionally attached to ten little duck eggs.

Today I’m sharing Part 2 of our journey hatching duck eggs, from the heartbreak of losing a few embryos to preparing for lockdown as we get closer to hatch day. Whether you’re following along for the ducks or you’re just here for another family adventure, I’m so glad you’re here. I’d love to connect and help tell your family’s story, too!

Hatching Duck Eggs Isn’t Always Easy

After Part 1, we had 15 eggs that looked healthy. They all showed veins and little heartbeats, and I was feeling pretty optimistic.

Then things changed.

During our daily candling sessions, I started noticing a few eggs that didn’t look quite right. The veins had stopped moving, the heartbeat was gone, and instead of seeing an active little duckling, I was seeing dark circles with no signs of life. Even though I knew what I was looking at, I still wasn’t ready to accept it.

“What if I’m wrong?” That question kept running through my head. So I waited another day. Then another and another. Eventually, it became clear that five of our little ducklings had stopped developing.

There’s something special about waiting for new life to arrive. If you’re expecting, here’s a blog to help you build a birth team that feels right for you. Read more here

Saying Goodbye to Five Tiny Ducklings

I’ll be honest, I was nervous.

Removing those eggs felt like such a big decision because there was always that tiny voice in the back of my mind wondering if maybe… just maybe… I had missed something.

When we finally cracked them open, the eggs that had never developed looked just like regular eggs. The ones that had once shown heartbeats were completely different. Seeing the tiny embryos inside was heartbreaking.

It’s amazing how attached you can become to something so small. As sad as it was, it also became one of the biggest learning moments of this experience. Nature doesn’t always go the way we hope, and that’s simply part of hatching duck eggs.

It’s not the fun part of the story, but it is a real one.

I chose not to share the photos of the embryos because they’re difficult to look at and I wanted to be respectful of that part of the experience. I have included a few photos of us opening the eggs that never developed and never showed heartbeats.

This little adventure has reminded me that some of the best memories happen in the most unexpected places. If you’re planning a family photo session, I’ve shared 10 of my favorite locations. Read the blog here.

Hatching Duck Eggs: Meet Our Final Ten

With those five eggs removed, we were officially down to ten healthy ducklings still growing. And yes, every single one still has a name.

Meet our final team:

Barthalemu (#2)

Willa (#3)

Monarch (#5)

Quacklemore (#6)

Viper (#7)

Harry Kane (#13)

Sunny (#14)

William (#17)

Jude (#18)

Tater Tot (#20)

There were a few name changes along the way. Charles Barkley was officially retired after my husband decided Harry Kane was a much more appropriate name for an England supporter. Peking Duck also got a makeover and is now Jude after Jude Bellingham.

Apparently our ducklings have transfer windows too.

William, however, has become my favourite. His egg looked different from the others, and I found myself rooting for him without really knowing why. Then I realized… I’ve always been drawn to the different ones. The underdogs. The ones that don’t quite follow the crowd. Maybe that’s why William feels a little special to me.

This adventure has reminded me that some of the best childhood memories are made in the middle of ordinary days. If you’re looking for an Edmonton photographer who captures those moments, read the blog here.

Candling Became My Favourite Part of the Day

By this point, candling had become part of my daily routine. Actually… more like my favourite part of the day.

I quickly learned it was much easier to see everything at night, so after the girls went to bed I’d usually find myself hovering over the incubator, checking on everyone one by one.

Every day the ducklings looked a little different. The air sacs slowly grew larger. The embryos filled more of the shell. Watching them develop never got old.

I probably checked them far more often than necessary, but I couldn’t help myself. Some people unwind by watching Netflix. Apparently I unwind by staring at duck eggs.

Lockdown Has Officially Begun

Before I started hatching duck eggs, I had no idea what “lockdown” meant. Now it feels like the biggest milestone yet.

Once our ducklings reached lockdown, we removed the automatic egg turner, increased the humidity to between 75 and 85 percent, and officially closed the incubator until hatch day.

I didn’t realize how attached I’d become to our nightly candling sessions until they were suddenly over. For weeks I’d been checking on every little heartbeat and cheering everyone on. Now there was nothing left to do but trust the process and let nature take over.

This waiting season has reminded me how beautiful the anticipation can be. If you’re expecting, I’ve shared why I love capturing maternity photos at home. Read the blog here.

The Science Is Pretty Amazing

One of the coolest things I’ve learned during this experience is how ducklings actually hatch.

Before making their first crack in the shell, they don’t immediately breathe outside air. Instead, they first pip into the internal air sac that’s already inside the egg.

That gives them their first little breaths. Once the oxygen in that air pocket starts running out, they make their first external pip, the tiny crack we all wait so excitedly to see.

It’s incredible to think that everything they need has been inside that egg all along.

Nature really is amazing.

This little adventure has reminded me that some of the best memories happen in the most unexpected places. If you’re planning a family photo session, I’ve shared 10 of my favorite locations. Read the blog here.

The Final Days of Hatching Duck Eggs

So here we are, just days away from hatch day.

Our ten remaining eggs have officially made it to lockdown, and now all we can do is wait. The girls still ask for updates every morning, and I catch myself peeking through the incubator window far more often than I’d like to admit, even though I know opening it isn’t an option.

We’re so close.

If everything goes according to plan, the next time I write, our kitchen will be filled with tiny peeps, wobbly little ducklings, and the personalities we’ve spent weeks imagining. I can’t wait to finally introduce you to Quacklemore, William, Harry Kane, Sunny, Tater Tot, and the rest of our little flock.

Part 3 will be all about hatch day and everything that comes after, and I have a feeling it’s going to be my favourite chapter yet.

And if you’re here because you love documenting life’s little seasons as much as I do, I’d love to connect. Whether you’re expecting a baby, welcoming a newborn, or simply making memories with your family, these everyday moments often become the ones you treasure most. If you’re looking for an Edmonton photographer, I’d love to help tell your family’s story.

You can learn more about me or come say hi on Instagram too!

xo

Jessica