Hatching - helping the duckling in trouble

Last year, this helped me save a ducking who's mother got taken by a raccoon on hatch day, and during the attack his egg shell had gotten smashed. He couldn't get out of the shell by himself, so I opened it up for him and he lived. He grew up to be a healthy drake, and is living a very happy life.

A good read. I myself am not comfortable with that much intervention although I do help every once in a while. Thank you for your post!

Very educational.
My first ever hatch I felt that I needed to assist as I noticed many of the situations you described above. I had great success and all ducklings grew up to be very healthy and strong. My next hatch, I decided to not assist and although all 3 ducklings hatched, 1 died within 4 days and the other within 2 weeks and I believe this was due to stressful and problematic hatch.
Sometimes, I think that you just have to go with your gut feeling, despite all the comments and advice telling you never to assist.
Thanks for an interesting read.

As a caution, Assisting should not happen regularly. If it is, then work on incubation issues.

this is a good guide for when you do need to help

That's cool

I love the video at the end of this excellent article! Very good explanations of how and when to make decisions, supported with many pictures. I feel more confident to help my future ducklings hatch, once i decide to incubate my duck's eggs.