Day 30 for my duck eggs-slight movement-no piping-should I help them?

[dinomom]

Please help! I'm worried I've totally screwed this up. My temp fluctuates constantly whenever the house cools or warms. I've been candling the eggs daily and have seen movement, although now they're not moving hardly at all and no pipping (that I can tell). I'm afraid I'm hurting these little guys by not helping them. But I'm also afraid I'll hurt them by helping. I don't have a humidity gauge but have water in the bottom trough and have been spraying them daily. My temp has fluctuated between 98 and 101 the entire time but they were alive. What should I do????

 

[Komaki]

In my opinion don't help. It's normal.

 

[dinomom]

Please tell me how I know if they've pipped? Will the raised piece be on the fat end of the egg where there air pocket is? What exactly does it look like? Thanks!

 

[Cat Water]

If they pip, they start breaking the shell. So just look if the shell is broken a little.

 

[Komaki]

Quote:
Yes on the fat end. But don't forget to stare at them for hours on end. lol

 

[Luvducks]

OKAY, so My opinion is to put a tiny hole in the shell. If you see ANY blood put it back imediately. I MUST Help my little Call Ducks or they cannot get out of the shell. I do know we have lots of Calcium in our water so I think the shells are very hard.

I slowly peel away the shell on the air cell end until I see a beak. Then if they still do not come out I help get the head out. The duckling can then rest and eventually kick the remaining shell off on its own. This way they absorb all the yolk before completing hatch.

Also if you tap on the egg you should hear peeping if they have pipped.

Most will not agree with me on this method but I pretty much would have a 0 hatch rate if I did not help. This includes Silkies and Call Ducks.

 

[Balbinka]

Quote:
This ^ is good advice.

You do what you need to do for a good, healthy hatch.
Whether that is leaving them alone or helping them out... that is up to you.

If your duck eggs are Muscovy duck eggs, you still have 3-5 days until they hatch (they take a long time to hatch). What breed are you incubating?

 

[dinomom]

Yes, they are Muscovy. Thanks so much I'll give it more time! Whew, this is stressful.

 

[dinomom]

Update!!! 1 baby hatched this morning (this one is a mallard, we got him a few days after the others), well the others aren't due to hatch until Thurs. He's rolling the other eggs all around. Is that ok? I need to leave him in there till at least 7pm. Any advice? Thanks y'all

 

[darlene1]

Please help this is the first time I've tried to hatch my peking ducks eggs. out of 5 eggs only one made a whole the others didn't but they moved and are no longer moving. Well the one that made the whole is sticking its beak out and peeping. I pulled away some of the shell but not the membrane to try and help,and when i saw the duckling opening its beak while sticking it out of the egg, i pulled away alittle more of the shell and a part of the membrane broke but didn't bleed. I'm scared and want the lil fella to live what should I do? Continue to pull away the shell or just leave it alone? Please reply