I'm new to hatching ducks (welsh harlequin) with an incubator. I let the wrong duck get broody and she's not the best broody duck. I took the eggs from her b/c she was leaving too long and she crushed one (accidentally, I'm sure). She also got mean. None of my other ducks have bitten me when they were broody.
My question is how to know when to assist. I had one that was developing and I thought we were on track. Then it stopped moving. I put in a safety hole using the 5/64 drill bit. I finally opened the egg today to find a fully formed female duckling. The only thing left was to resorb the yolk sac. It didn't smell bad like infection. There was no visible bleeding. From the gross view, this was a perfectly formed beautiful duckling.
I'm a biologist by education, and I know this happens naturally. I'm still questioning my job as a caretaker.
When do you assist?
I've been told I should open it up... but if something is wrong, it seems this is nature's way of handling it. I'm wondering what others would do.
Thank you
picture below is our first hatchling of the season. and one of my welshies.
My question is how to know when to assist. I had one that was developing and I thought we were on track. Then it stopped moving. I put in a safety hole using the 5/64 drill bit. I finally opened the egg today to find a fully formed female duckling. The only thing left was to resorb the yolk sac. It didn't smell bad like infection. There was no visible bleeding. From the gross view, this was a perfectly formed beautiful duckling.
I'm a biologist by education, and I know this happens naturally. I'm still questioning my job as a caretaker.
When do you assist?
I've been told I should open it up... but if something is wrong, it seems this is nature's way of handling it. I'm wondering what others would do.
Thank you
picture below is our first hatchling of the season. and one of my welshies.