A silly question about mule ducks

[Henschickspups]

Baby got his bill back out of the membrane and is taking continuous breaths. Heading in the right direction.

 

[Luv Ducks]

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.

You are most welcome. It's hard to not try to help and to not know exactly when is too soon. I had one that I did not help and it died completely finished in the egg. It broke my heart when I opened the egg to see what went wrong. Hopefully this little one will be just fine with oxygen to breathe and will get the rest of the blood vessels and yolk sac absorbed. I am praying for him.

 

[Henschickspups]

Morning check, yolk and blood vessels have been absorbed significantly since last night, membrane is still moist, bill is out even further, breathing is regular, and he even squeaked out a few chirps at me.

On my end, having an egg staring back at me before coffee is certainly an experience.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Morning check, yolk and blood vessels have been absorbed significantly since last night, membrane is still moist, bill is out even further, breathing is regular, and he even squeaked out a few chirps at me.

On my end, having an egg staring back at me before coffee is certainly an experience.

Yeah!!! It sounds like all is going well. Keep up the Good Work Little Duckie!!!

 

[Henschickspups]

Yolk appears to be entirely absorbed, just a few major blood vessels left, which are all visibly smaller than this morning. Baby is moving with vigor.

The eyeball is still a bit a creepy.

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

Do you keep the mules?

 

[Henschickspups]

Do you keep the mules?

This will be my first duck.

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

This will be my first duck.

Okay awesome!! What do you plan on using them for? Just eggs? I have a few and have been tryna figure out what ima use em for

 

[Henschickspups]

@Luv Ducks , can you help me out quick? Or @casportpony ?

The shell looks like it's becoming discolored, and spreading from the border of the air sac down towards the point end. Is this normal? Idk how well the coloration will show up in the photo, but I did the best I could to capture it.

And this is not shadow, it is the shell itself.

 

[Henschickspups]

Okay awesome!! What do you plan on using them for? Just eggs? I have a few and have been tryna figure out what ima use em for

Just to love on I think so far! This was a total, what the heck experiment, I wasn't even expecting development to start let alone watching him hatch! We're still working on finding him some duck friends, tractor supply didn't have any this morning, and I'd like to get some as close in age as possible.

The original plan was he would go to a family members house, who is raising ducks this year.

Until we started talking about processing (her) ducks and I was offered all of hers at the end of the year, since she doesn't want to keep them over winter and absolutely will not process them herself.