Approaching Pekin Lockdown Day

Throughout early incubation, the eggs are turned regularly to prevent the developing embryo from sticking to the inner shell membrane. “Lockdown” is the point where we stop turning them, allowing the duckling to settle into the correct hatching position and keeping the air sac stable so it can take its first breath from that little pocket of air.

Because our incubation began late in the day on March 1st, our Pekin eggs are due for lockdown this Thursday evening, the 26th.

At this stage, movement is clearly visible — tiny, unmistakable wiggles from inside the shell. It’s one of those moments where things start to feel very real, very fast.

Here are a few snapshots of our Pekin ducklings-in-progress:

Not every egg is progressing smoothly. One egg appears to have a detached air sac, which can significantly affect its chances of hatching. That said, it’s not impossible — I’ve personally seen a chicken egg with a severely detached air sac hatch successfully, so we’re not giving up on it just yet. There is still visible movement, so for now, we’re doing the best we can and handling it as little as possible while it’s in this fragile state.

A detached air sac (also called a “tremulous air cell”) is usually caused by physical shock — rough handling, vibration, or the general indignities of shipping. It happens when the inner membrane separates from the shell, causing the air pocket to shift freely instead of staying anchored at the blunt end.

The further along we get, the heavier each loss feels. I’m also concerned that egg #2 may have stalled — there’s no visible movement, and it feels slightly cooler than the others, which are often signs that development has stopped. Still, I’m giving it another 24 hours in the incubator… just in case it pulls off a last-minute comeback.

If you picture a classic storybook duck — white feathers, yellow bill — you’re probably imagining a Pekin. They’re about as archetypal as ducks come.

Pekins have been raised for over 2,000 years and originated in China — “Pekin” or “Peking” being older anglicizations of Beijing (北京), which means Northern Capital. In 1873, white ducks from Beijing were brought to New York by James E. Palmer, forming the foundation of the American Pekin industry.

Bred primarily for meat, Pekins are known for their rapid growth and calm temperament. The tradeoff is that they’re prone to leg and joint issues, particularly if they become overweight, and they require adequate niacin in their diet to stay healthy. They’re also… enthusiastic eaters. And by “enthusiastic,” I mean 🥚eggstravagantly🥚 messy, even by duck standards.

We’re keeping their orthopedic needs in mind as we plan their future duck house, especially given our hilly terrain. Gentle ramps and flat resting areas will go a long way in keeping them comfortable. And with several natural springs on the property, we’re hoping to create a small spring-fed pond for them. Log Hut Spouse has already started prepping the backhoe — now we just need a stretch of warmer, less soggy days to make it happen.

More updates to come — if you enter your email below, new posts will get sent right to your inbox. 🦆 💌

Thanks for ducking in!

xoxo

P