Call duck egg day 20 (set August 21)

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

As long as you don’t see a big amount of clear-ish fluid, up against the air cell, I’d stay optimistic. Movement can be hard to detect when they are so cramped.

Not sure if you’ve tried (I assume you have, but just in case) with the NR, if you position the eggs about two inches from the edge, with the air cells pointing toward the window, you can candle without opening the lid!
View attachment 2335541

No, I don’t see clear fluid present in the air cell. I think you’re right because it was so hard for me to see movement yesterday. I have done this with previous duck eggs so I can candle through the incubator but didn’t think to set this egg near the edge so I could candle. That is a great picture! Thanks for your help.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

Beginning of day 26. I had to open the incubator this morning to turn the other eggs so I did a very quick candle and had it open for less than 5 minutes. Baby was moving all around again. I’m relieved that the little one is still alive and moving around but it still has not internally pipped. I also took @WVduckchick ’s advice and set it about two inches away from the side so I can candle without opening the incubator. This baby is being such a slowpoke...

 

[WVduckchick]

I was hoping to come here this morning and see a picture of an external pip!! But as long as you still see movement, it’s still goo!
Has the air cell drawn down??

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

I was hoping to come here this morning and see a picture of an external pip!! But as long as you still see movement, it’s still goo!
Has the air cell drawn down??

I know! Me too! I definitely saw movement this morning. No internal pip yet just shadowing is present. When I candled I did notice that the veins were smaller and some look to have been absorbed so maybe it is absorbing... I’ve been candling without opening the incubator and there is still no change. I’m home today so I’ll put my light up to the side of the incubator and check every once in a while without opening... wish this little duckling some luck! I really hope it makes it. I can’t make a safety hole yet because it hasn’t internally pipped right? I’m starting to get nervous...

 

[WVduckchick]

I know! Me too! I definitely saw movement this morning. No internal pip yet just shadowing is present. When I candled I did notice that the veins were smaller and some look to have been absorbed so maybe it is absorbing... I’ve been candling without opening the incubator and there is still no change. I’m home today so I’ll put my light up to the side of the incubator and check every once in a while without opening... wish this little duckling some luck! I really hope it makes it. I can’t make a safety hole yet because it hasn’t internally pipped right? I’m starting to get nervous...

Correct - no need for a safety hole until it internally pips.

 

[WVduckchick]

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

I’ve been busy so I was unable to make a post. I’m really sad to say but the little guy didn’t make it. I did end up opening the egg and found that the little duckling was facing away from the air cell with a lot of yolk present. It looked to me like it might have had an umbilical hernia as it seemed the intestines were attached to the yolk sac. It was a black bibbed. I’m bummed it didn’t make it. Hope for better luck next time I try call eggs. My pictures aren’t the best.

warning Eggtopsy

 

[WVduckchick]

So sorry. Calls are a challenge, and many stop at that point, so I feel sure it wasn’t anything you did or didn’t do.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

So sorry. Calls are a challenge, and many stop at that point, so I feel sure it wasn’t anything you did or didn’t do.

Thank you so much for all your help. I really wish the little guy would’ve hatched. I still have one call egg that I had put in the incubator unknowing that it was cracked. By the time I realised it was already developing. It is day 12 and it is still going strong... I’m not sure what’ll happen but I’m trying to prepare myself for disappointment.