Newbie - Need help with partial hatchling

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stormysunflower

stormysunflower

In the Brooder
Jun 6, 2016
11
1
14
Pennsylvania
Hello

I had two ducklings pip their eggs yesterday. They did not break through their shells, but one survived the night and is still and peeping from inside.
Everything I have read said it is better to not intervene, becuase usually if they cant get out they probably wont survive. But the little guy survived the night and I can't stand thinking of him stuck in there.
Should I intervene now since the little guy is still alive?

Thanks for your time.
Stormy
 
stormysunflower said:
Hello

I had two ducklings pip their eggs yesterday. They did not break through their shells, but one survived the night and is still and peeping from inside.
Everything I have read said it is better to not intervene, becuase usually if they cant get out they probably wont survive. But the little guy survived the night and I can't stand thinking of him stuck in there.
Should I intervene now since the little guy is still alive?

Thanks for your time.
Stormy
Click to expand...
@stormysunflower Welcome to BYC. I will refer you to those that use an incubator.Hope someone is on who can help.

@WVduckchick
@Lacrystol
@CyndiD
 
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Ducklings are very hard to judge when to intervene. But... they can easily take over 40 hours from initial pip to actually starting to zip out of their shell. See, they need the fresh air from within the air cell, and from outside the egg, but they usually aren't ready to come out, because they need more time to absorb their yolk. They rest a lot and worry us even more!

I tend to wait, as long as it looks like they have free air to breathe, and are staying active every 30 minutes or so.... peeping or jiggling the egg, etc. As you have read, rushing them can have very bad consequences, but waiting too long can also. Its a fine line, and a judgment call you have to make.

Can you get a picture of the pips?
 



@WVduckchick
The one on top peeps the most and responds when I peep back at him, but has not made any progress since yesterday. The one on bottom has been incredibly quiet, I thought we had lost it, and then made more progress about an hour ago.
It has been about 20 hours since they've started.
 
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20 hours doesn't bother me at all.... but.... the bottom one is pipped on the wrong end, and I can't tell on the top one. Is it on the pointed end, or fat end. Plus, the membrane should be papery white. As it starts turning brown, it starts drying out and they get stuck to it and can't make their turn inside the shell.

How is your humidity? What kind of incubator? How have your temps and humidity been throughout incubation?
 
@WVduckchick both are pipped at the pointy end. The membrane is starting to turn brown-ish. Temp is 100° f and 71% humidity.
The incubator is homemade (Styrofoam cooler). Temps and humidity have been fluctuating in the range I've read is ok.
It's not an ideal set up, but I'm trying to take care of the project the initial person started with.
 
It's been 26 hours now, what is an appropriate amount of time for a duckie to take when hatching?
They are both still moving around and peeping at me. They have not made any progress since last I posted. I'm dampening the membrane to keep it from drying out as quickly.
 
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.External Pips (And Pips in general) Are meant to be at the round end which is normally where the air sack is. Where as your little fellas are piping are piping at the pointy end.

Are you going to consider helping them? I understand most people disagree to do so, But because of where the position they are in and the situation of the membrane, personally I would consider helping them. I have helped ducks and chicks that have been in the same situation as yours and they all survived (They are waddling around outside as I type).

Best of luck
smile.png


-Mustang
 
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