Duck baby hatching emergency--please help!

[SilverPhoenix]

Well, it's a long story, but I had to help five of my chicks out of their eggs because they had dried to the membrane after zipping. My duck egg, which is apparently almost full-term, had pipped but was making no progress and made no progress for twenty-four hours, so I decided to try and help the little guy out of fear that his fate would be like that of the chicks that had dried. I wish I hadn't tried to help now--the membrane still had blood flow in it, so there was bleeding when I was opening the egg, and it appears the yolk resorption hadn't completed yet.

Is there hope for this adorable duckling at all? Can the resorption finish still? The duck otherwise seems fine, was peeping at me while I was opening the egg, but does have a bloody area about the size of a dime where the resorption should occur.

I feel awful.

I really hope there's a chance for this little guy! There was almost nothing left in the egg where the yolk was, so I'm really hoping the little duckling can pull through. Any advice is appreciated, thanks! I'm so worried that I killed this duckling by trying to help it. I can tell you, next hatch things will be different.

EDIT: I just checked, and the bloody area where yolk resorption occurs is smaller than I thought (just a bit larger than a normal "belly button"--so that bodes well. I wrapped him in a wet, warm hand towel and I'm hoping for the best.

 

[duckyfromoz]

All you can really do now is wait and hope the little one does pull through. It may also become stuck to the shell over time when the blood has dried- But if that much blood has came out- I would give it a few hours at minimum before trying to offer any other assistance. If you can place a damp face washer loosley around the egg- Dampen it with warm water so it doesnt cool the duckling - it will help to stop the egg drying out too much and maybe allow the duckling to move enough to not become stuck in the blood. Good luck- I hope the little guy is still strong enough to make it out.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Thank you! I actually took the little guy completely out of the egg, so he's out. There wasn't a ton of blood or anything, but there was some, and it was wet so I assume it was still flowing in the membrane. So far the duckling is simply in the incubator lying there, so I'm hoping there's a chance he'll pull through and be able to finish absorbing whatever remains of the yolk right outside his body. Where the "belly button" should be, it's not closed up--there's a little bulge and a little blood. Scary, scary, scary! Definitely never opening an egg with just a pip in it again.

But this is my first real hatch, so I'm just trying to use my best judgment. With the chicks I helped, I'm glad I did, but I really should have left the duck egg alone.

I may wrap the duckling in a wet towel, though, in hopes that that will help it.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Oh..ok..I thought you had just peeled some membrane back.. So the blood was coming from the "umbilical cord". That is actually making things sound a little more hopefull. He may just need a little more time than normal to be up and around. And as long as there is no more bleeding the little guy stands a good chance. i would suggest trying to get him to eat and drink as soon as possible to help it gain some stregnth - also some vitamins in the water for a few days may help as well. Infection is a risk - so make sure the little one is kept on very clean bedding for the first week especially.

It is always so hard to be patient and let them do their thing. Last year I got a lot of shipped eggs as I was trying to find ducklings or adult birds of a particular breed and colour- and could find none in my state. I was desperate for every possible duckling to survive- and did assist some hatchlings. I have learnt now though- and will only help in certain ways- I will not peel shell or membrane for them. One of the little ones I helped last year is disabled and will never walk. Although its sounds sad- it may have been kinder not to help her - and she would have died in the shell. Sometimes they arent able to hatch on their own for a reason other than humidity drying out the eggs.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Thank you, that's what I'm thinking! I checked again and the umbilical cord is smaller than I thought, so I think it might just need a little more time to rest and get strong, like you were saying. For the most part, the duckling looks normal, just with a slight bulge on the belly and small opening with a little blood where the umbilical cord was. Thankfully, I should be able to provide the little one lots of good care--as a wildlife rehabber, I do know how to deal with keeping things sanitary and providing supportive care.

Thank you so much for your input. I'm feeling a bit hopeful about the duckling, though if it doesn't make it...well, I've learned my lesson. I really should have let the duckling hatch on its own, but seeing as assisting the chicks was the right decision (they really did just need assistance because the membrane dried out), I was eager to not make the wrong decision on the duckling. In the future, I'm going to be much more conservative about helping to hatch, and also be more careful about keeping the humidity up.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Incubating sure isnt as easy as some people make it sound... there is so many variables..and even if you do get everything right..power failures and other issues can still arise.. Good luck in the future...But it sounds like this little one is in good hands anyway... Hope all goes well for you an your little duckling.. Love to see a pic when all fluffed up too... he sounds like he will be a bit special...

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Indeed! And the moral questions when it comes to incubating are tough, too. I'm really hoping this baby can pull through. If he does, he will be a special and spoiled duckling. Please keep him in your thoughts in hopes that he survives. I'm really hoping, but also trying to remain realistic in that he might not pull through.

 

[BigOJoe]

i have wanted to help chicks and ducks both but waited thinking they can do it. I had been hatching eggs in a home made home school project incubator with a light buid, i had about 75% success with that and wanted better so i bought a styrofoam bator with turner and now have a 45% hatch rate. I loose most the last few days, 99% are developed and never pip,

 

[Penturner]

I have been doing a ton of reading on incubation. I found that nearly all failures are in the first 3 days or the last 3. that info might be helpful to those of you that are struggle the entire 21 days for correct temp and humidity. As far as I can tell temp is important to limit losses in the first three days. Humidity and even turning are of almost no concern and one paper written from a University says there is no need to turn eggs for the first 10 days (I still turn mine just not as often). Humidity becomes more important in the last 3 days. Temp is also very important in the last 3 days as well.
I found a chart that help you diagnose the reasons a chick would fail at each and every day of incubation. basically there is early , mid, and late term failures. most early deaths are caused by pre incubation egg handling or improper temperature. Mid death is a mix of other factor that for the most part you are not going to be able to change anyway such as genetics, bacteria etc. Late death is caused by incorrect temp or incorrect humidity. That is at least the easy version.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Thank you for the replies. The duckling made it through the night! All I can do is hope and care for it as best as I can.