Day 23 of hatching duck eggs

[CluckNDoodle]

I didn't hear chirping, but I did hear tapping!!! Ooooooommmmmmmmggggggg I am far too excited

It's the best isn't it!!
Be careful, hatching chicks is super addictive. Lol

 

[ValerieJ]

This the good stuff!

 

[Hev1977]

@WVduckchick it's been 24 hours since the internal pip, I heard him still tapping away in there this morning, but there has been no progress!!! Should I make a small air hole for him??

 

[Hev1977]

Also,I've noticed the shell has yellow patches!!!

 

[rjohns39]

Can you candle it and get a pic? Then post it here.

 

[Hev1977]

@rjohns39 I can try, but before lockdown, when I candled, there really wasn't much to see as the duckling took up the whole egg!!! My saddled/detached air cell duckling has not done anything, no pip or movement. Think I may have lost that one!!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

@WVduckchick it's been 24 hours since the internal pip, I heard him still tapping away in there this morning, but there has been no progress!!! Should I make a small air hole for him??

There's a lot of debate as to whether you should intervene during hatches or not. I'm big on waiting but I will assist when necessary. That is totally up to you. Waterfowl are nerve-wracking and I did end up assisting my goslings to hatch. If you decide to put a small safety hole in the egg I recommend candling, marking the air cell and trying to put the hole in the very center of where the air cell lights up rather than where the bill is because it's so easy to accidentally puncture the internal membrane when trying to find the bill, especially if it's your first time assisting. The duckling will usually be closer to the shell than it appears, so use caution. I use a screw now because there's less chance of slipping. Gently work on scoring and picking at the shell, don't press with too much pressure because once the shell gives way you don't want it to slip and poke the baby. It's better to take your time when doing that and just make a small air hole so that you know the ducking is getting oxygen and gives you a lot more time to decide if you need to assist any further.
Some people put small safety holes in their duck eggs before every hatch. I wait to do that, like you have been, simply because in my experience it seems to dry out the internal membrane more quickly and increases chances for shrink wrapping.

This image is not an example of a safety hole, this was during a full assist but I wanted you to see how much the duckling fills the egg and how close they can be to the shell even when the air cell lights up.

 

[Hev1977]

Thank you @CluckNDoodle I just listened to the egg, it's still tapping away!! I might give it longer to see how he does @rjohns39 candling didn't show me much but I got a picture of the yellowing. It wasn't there before but I noticed it today. Any idea what it is??

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Thank you @CluckNDoodle I just listened to the egg, it's still tapping away!! I might give it longer to see how he does @rjohns39 candling didn't show me much but I got a picture of the yellowing. It wasn't there before but I noticed it today. Any idea what it is??

I don't know what actually causes the discoloration but it seems more common in duck eggs, especially when they're shipped. We discussed the bruising on duck eggs in a hatch-a-long a couple of months ago and decided it's likely from displaced fluid coming through the porus shell. I'm not saying that with confidence, it was just a unanimous guess, lol.

 

[Hev1977]

Ok, I've made the tiniest hole for him, and he let out a squeak as I pulled the tiniest bit of shell and membrane off. I feel less anxious now that I know he has air getting in. Will update again.
Thank you for all your advice.