Are they still alive?

[RaspberryMommy]

I am new to incubating eggs and to BYC. I started with 16 Ancona duck eggs and about a week later added 12 assorted chicks. Out of all the eggs 13 ducks were fertile and only 2 chicks were. I had 5 ducks hatch yesterday (right on time) and none of the other duck eggs seem to be doing anything. No pipping, shaking, noises, etc. The five ducklings really went nuts moving, bumping and climbing all over the eggs so I moved them to the brooder as soon as they were dry. Did they comprise all the others? I candled when I took the turner out on day 25 (I hand turned the chicks so I had to keep opening the incubator for a couple days) and they all seemed good and healthy. I have noticed three of the eggs are forming a really dark area on the shell. (Anconas are white eggs.) Is this a sign of a dead chick? I really don't want to keep opening the incubator as I already had it open it a number of times since the first pipping started to remove ducks and to assist with the last hatch. I would love any advice! My hopes for all of them are starting to dwindle. BTW- The chicks are due to hatch on the 6th. Thanks!

 

[Iain Utah]

How long since you first saw the spots? Are the dark spots on the pointy end? If so, the baby is probably turned backwards and trying to break out the other end.

If all have hatched out on schedule... and you see nothing going on with remaining, it may be time to open up and see what is going on.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

Candle for movement.... lest you get a "surprise" of some sort.

 

[RaspberryMommy]

The darkness started within the last 24 hours and is on the pointy ends of all. I did give in and candle them tonight and saw andyour felt no movement.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

That's obviously not a good sign. You could open one up and see what's going on if you wanted. I don't because... well, I don't want too. But you may have no problem with that.

 

[Iain Utah]

Oh no! It is probably too late and extremely difficult to assist hatch on wrong way babies. You can try peeling away the shell and membrane, but I doubt they are still alive. I am so sorry!

 

[RaspberryMommy]

What is the best way to open one up? I really don't want to make a mess anywhere and if it is still alive I don't want to harm it.

 

[Iain Utah]

I do not know how to sugarcoat this... since another day has passed since you began to see staining on eggs, the chances are super slim they are alive.

I would recommend doing a float test. Fill a bowl with lukewarm water just deep enough to fit egg vertically. The fat end of egg should rise to the top of the water. If you see egg wiggle... or ripples in water... quickly remove, pat dry off, put back in bator and report ASAP on thread.

If you see zip zero movement, vibrations, wiggling, rippling of water of any kind... the baby has passed.

 

[RaspberryMommy]

They are ALL floating fat end up. This is so frustrating! I did not see ripples but there was definetly bobbing on a few of them. I have one I know 100% for sure is dead and it floated horizontally. I just wish I could see something during candling. (No sugar coating is necessary for me by the way. I am a tough farm girl that butchers her own broilers.)

 

[RaspberryMommy]

If they are backwards like you say they may be why are so many of them like that? Is it fairly common? What causes it?