Call duck hatching newbie

[RafterB_ranch]

I have been watching an egg for some time, that it’s partner egg (incubated in same row, therefore same temperature) has been internally pipped for about 24 hours. I decided to open up the un-pipped egg to discover that there was no bill present and I could see the yolk sack (should be at the other end). I took my time looking at the shell of the egg on the other side, and studying how the other birds heads were positioned in relation to the yolk sack. I then peeled away the outer layer of shell (not membrane) where I anticipated it being. As I chipped away the outer membrane began to show be discoloured yellow which is a great sign that the chick was trying to peck it’s way out. I peeled back the outer thick white membrane to make sure I wouldn’t hit any veins and then saw the chicks bill buried deep in the egg and now it can breath!
Fingers crossed it survives, i doubt it would have if I didn’t intervene! It is starting to respirate now so still has a long road ahead of absorption and detachment.

https://imgur.com/a/LlZaRiF

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I have been watching an egg for some time, that it’s partner egg (incubated in same row, therefore same temperature) has been internally pipped for about 24 hours. I decided to open up the un-pipped egg to discover that there was no bill present and I could see the yolk sack (should be at the other end). I took my time looking at the shell of the egg on the other side, and studying how the other birds heads were positioned in relation to the yolk sack. I then peeled away the outer layer of shell (not membrane) where I anticipated it being. As I chipped away the outer membrane began to show be discoloured yellow which is a great sign that the chick was trying to peck it’s way out. I peeled back the outer thick white membrane to make sure I wouldn’t hit any veins and then saw the chicks bill buried deep in the egg and now it can breath!
Fingers crossed it survives, i doubt it would have if I didn’t intervene! It is starting to respirate now so still has a long road ahead of absorption and detachment.

https://imgur.com/a/LlZaRiF

Fingers crossed. At least there you can see the yolk sack so you will know if it's being absorbed or not. I haven't had very good luck trying to save ones that are like that. But since you found the bill and was able to get it where it can breathe that is a great start!

 

[RafterB_ranch]

Fingers crossed. At least there you can see the yolk sack so you will know if it's being absorbed or not. I haven't had very good luck trying to save ones that are like that. But since you found the bill and was able to get it where it can breathe that is a great start!

Unfortunately it didn’t make it, guessing it was trying to pip for too long without success. Oh well, the best we can do is try! 4 healthy babies in the brooder so far

 

[RafterB_ranch]

 

[RafterB_ranch]

@shawluvsbirds
When I hold the last two eggs to my ear I hear crinkling noises. A rythmic tic everyonce and a while but more sounds like they’re moving industrial Saran Wrap around inside. Could this mean they’re shrink wrapped? Incubator has been opened quite a lot to deal with the 4 that have already hatched. I didn’t hear the crinkling sound on any others.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

@shawluvsbirds
When I hold the last two eggs to my ear I hear crinkling noises. A rythmic tic everyonce and a while but more sounds like they’re moving industrial Saran Wrap around inside. Could this mean they’re shrink wrapped? Incubator has been opened quite a lot to deal with the 4 that have already hatched. I didn’t hear the crinkling sound on any others.

I just don't think shrink wrapping happens as often as most people think. I open my incubator a lot and have only had a couple of cases that I thought were truly shrink wrapped.
I don't really know about the crinkling noise I've never noticed that usually if I hear ticking then I assume they're tapping on the shell. Can you see their bill in the air cell? Maybe they are trying to pip outside the air cell somewhere and tapping the shell. Watch for bruising on the egg somewhere.

 

[RafterB_ranch]

I just don't think shrink wrapping happens as often as most people think. I open my incubator a lot and have only had a couple of cases that I thought were truly shrink wrapped.
I don't really know about the crinkling noise I've never noticed that usually if I hear ticking then I assume they're tapping on the shell. Can you see their bill in the air cell? Maybe they are trying to pip outside the air cell somewhere and tapping the shell. Watch for bruising on the egg somewhere.

So one of the two finals is malpositioned (3 out of 9 eggs malpositioned hopefully I can get at least one to survive it) but he actually pipped out the bottom so hopefully for a survival on that one. The other looks to be normally pipped. I’m thinking the crinkling is actually just extra moisture they’re moving around in. Didn’t realize until the end but there was about a 2.5 degree Celsius gradient of temp and a humidity gradient. So these guys were incubated cold and damp.
I already informed my husband we will be buying a better incubator!

 

[RafterB_ranch]

Blue-bibbed, black-bibbed, and white. Correct me if I’m wrong!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Blue-bibbed, black-bibbed, and white. Correct me if I’m wrong!

Looks right to me. Adorable. Congratulations! Great job for your first time!

 

[RafterB_ranch]

Hatch is complete. 7 out of 9 developed eggs hatched.
wanted to share the experience of my last two hatched in case anyone else has the same thing happen.
both were incubated at a cooler temp with extra humidity, I did not realize this until too late (use multiple thermometers people). So when both hatched 3 days overdue, they could not stand up and only could lay on their sides and paddle their feet out behind them. This was definitely not the same way that the other 5 healthy ducks moved when first hatched. My husband started researching humane ways to euthanize just in case, I started researching how to help cold hatched ducks that couldn’t stay on their bellies. Cue the duck-in-a-mug method.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...stand-keeps-flipping-over-need-advice.409555/
I put both ducks in regular size coffee mugs with paper towel at the bottom and left in the brooder for 5 hours (overnight). Leaving them out there alone was likely not the best solution but it’s what I was physically and mentally capable of doing at the time.
when I checked at 5:30 am the next morning, two beautiful faces were looking at me hopeful that mug time was done.
the one duck was able to stay on its belly and make small steps at that point so it got to come out, the other duck (malpositioned hatch) was still sticking legs out behind so went back in the mug for another hour.
I made an electrolyte/vitamin mix and mashed with a bit of food and made sure the two ate every hour for the first 6 hours.
1 day later and they’re running and jumping around. So thankful to have found that advice, I do not doubt they would not have made it if not for spending the night in a mug.

takeaway: hatch your ducks at the right temperature. If it’s too late to solve a temperature issue, consider the duck-in-a-mug method.
Ideally the ducks could stay in the incubator in the mugs, however mine was too short to accommodate a mug. I would suggest more supervision than what I was able to provide in the brooder, especially if you have more babies already running around.

cheers to our babies!