Dead?

[Scotquack]

Call duck sitting on two eggs. Yesterday both were making a tapping sound. Today one has made a star shaped crack in its egg. The other has gone a grey colour and I can’t hear anything. Has it died? Will I just leave it for now as not smelly? First time mum so I’m panicking a bit.

 

[Mvan42]

Yes I would leave them be. Give them time to pip then zip. If you candle you can see if they have internally piped yet. But it often takes several hours for them to hatch.

 

[Scotquack]

The one that’s normal looking I can now see a beak and it breathing. The other grey egg I’ve shone a light onto it. The beak is in air bubble but no movement at all.

 

[Mvan42]

I would still give it time. The darkness is just the size of the chick. You may want to do a safety hole if it's been internally piped for a while

 

[Weeg]

Can you get a picture please? Were is the grey selection? Over the air cell? If so, it could be a bruise from the duckling trying to hatch. Leave them be for now, they need to rest before zipping and this one may just be taking longer then the other.

 

[Scotquack]

 

[casportpony]

View attachment 2813555

Unfortunetly, that color usually means they are dead. Does that egg have any bruises on it? Like this?

 

[Scotquack]

My good egg hatched during night. Duckling found fluffy but dead just outside nest. So looks like we’ve lost them both

 

[Scotquack]

The good egg hatched. Duckling all fluffy but dead outside nest. Devastated.

 

[Weeg]

The good egg hatched. Duckling all fluffy but dead outside nest. Devastated.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Is this a first time broody? Who knows what could have happened. Its so hard to go through so much, and loose teh babies. I had a similar situation to you when I had a broody duck for the first time.
Its so hard. Do you think You'd be able to find the momma some ducklings to raise though? Sometimes thats a good option when nothing hatches.