A silly question about mule ducks

[Henschickspups]

Thanks! I took a quick peek through the incubator, and baby is tap dancing on the air cell, so I won't be surprised to wake up to an internal pip, so it may even be a bit sooner than 32.

He is 100% the very best ducky - and that may be the all I know of him.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Thanks! I took a quick peek through the incubator, and baby is tap dancing on the air cell, so I won't be surprised to wake up to an internal pip, so it may even be a bit sooner than 32.

He is 100% the very best ducky - and that may be the all I know of him.

You are most welcome. I ended up having to help my female out of the egg as after 48 hours of being in the air cell there was nothing going on. I put a small screw hole in the cell for oxygen for it but she still could not get out and was breathing hard. I ended up totally peeling her out, she was full of goo. It was all sticky so I gently washed her under warm water in a sink and put her under the light in the brooder and she did just fine. I still have her and her name is Lucky. I could not believe she lived through it all. The two males finished hatching in an incubator because Momma Mallard gave up on the rest of the eggs after 28 days and her Mallards had hatched out. I brought the eggs inside and saw three of them alive so finished them in the incubator. Sorry this is so long.

 

[Henschickspups]

No worries, I love reading all of the long ones.

I had to do that with my last two chickens to hatch. Both were malpositioned, head over wing and feet over head. It made me thankful I'm unable to keep my hands and flashlight to myself when we get close. I knew something was up when the one's air cell never dipped down, but she managed to internally pip.

Just to be clear, ducks go up to 48 hours after internal pip? Or only after external pip up to 48?

 

[Luv Ducks]

No worries, I love reading all of the long ones.

I had to do that with my last two chickens to hatch. Both were malpositioned, head over wing and feet over head. It made me thankful I'm unable to keep my hands and flashlight to myself when we get close. I knew something was up when the one's air cell never dipped down, but she managed to internally pip.

Just to be clear, ducks go up to 48 hours after internal pip? Or only after external pip up to 48?

I had heard 48 hours after internal pip. It was 48 hours and when I could see the beak breathing hard I decided to assist. I was glad that I did. I hope that yours turns out well. I am glad that you have had experience with assisting. It was my first time but it went well.

 

[Henschickspups]

Still waiting on the internal pip, but baby is just as active as ever.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Still waiting on the internal pip, but baby is just as active as ever.

Good to hear that baby is active. I had an egg take almost 38 days once because my temperature was lower on it. Don't give up and I know you won't. The baby was perfectly healthy. Some say if you assist the baby won't be as healthy because of the weakness not being able to do it on its own but that is not always the case by far. Good luck with this little one. This is where it can get nerve racking.

 

[Henschickspups]

It sure is. No change in the shadowing, but active, so I'm trying not to worry too much.

 

[Henschickspups]

Well. I messed up. Over today activity became less and less and there was no change in shadowing. Fearing the worst, I opened up a bit like I was assisting a hatch.

Baby is alive. There was definitely an internal pip, but the beak is back behind the membrane. I moistened him up with neosporin and stuck him back in the incubator. Looks like most of the big veins had receded in the membrane around the air cell, but he has lots of absorbing left to do.

I'm terrified I've killed him. I was terrified he was dead. I knew better. And still let the anxiety get the best of me.

Wish us luck, and I'll update one way or the other when we're done.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Well. I messed up. Over today activity became less and less and there was no change in shadowing. Fearing the worst, I opened up a bit like I was assisting a hatch.

Baby is alive. There was definitely an internal pip, but the beak is back behind the membrane. I moistened him up with neosporin and stuck him back in the incubator. Looks like most of the big veins had receded in the membrane around the air cell, but he has lots of absorbing left to do.

I'm terrified I've killed him. I was terrified he was dead. I knew better. And still let the anxiety get the best of me.

Wish us luck, and I'll update one way or the other when we're done.

Good Luck my friend. I had one hatch out with an egg sac attached to it's stomach the size of a nickel. It did just fine and I just let it absorb it on a paper towel. I pray that all goes well for you and your baby duckling.

 

[Henschickspups]

Good Luck my friend. I had one hatch out with an egg sac attached to it's stomach the size of a nickel. It did just fine and I just let it absorb it on a paper towel. I pray that all goes well for you and your baby duckling.

Thank you so much. I feel like the world's biggest idiot right now.

The membrane looked weird, very white all the way around, with just right around the bill moist looking. Neosporin made it all clear. I had opened up quite a bit before realizing he's still alive, so approximately half the hole is covered in seran wrap held on with some neosporin on the shell. I may adjust it a bit to cover up more of the hole, closer to 3/4 or a bit more when I remoisten in a few hours.

Remaining blood vessels around the air sac have almost finished receding, except for the one right beside the egg tooth. Which also looks like the biggest. So I've got cornstarch right beside the incubator.

Humidity is around 70, as high as I can get it without closing the vent.

Yolk sac is visibly smaller than just a few hours ago, and he's making chattering motions with his bill every few minutes. Further back towards the yolk sac is still lots of blood vessels.

At this point, I'm just documenting so others can learn from this.