Duck Egg Late!!

[Keeley]

So long story short I have 1 egg in an incubator (cross AND half bred, parents are Indian runner cross possibly Muscovy? Not sure) and the development of everything was perfect minus the air sac that was slightly too small but not small enough to cause major health issues.

The duckling was due Thursday the 14th, it's now the following Sunday. I checked yesterday by candling and there was movement and the veins were almost completely gone, but today I've checked and there doesn't seem to be movement but the duck appears closer to the air sac as I can't see much other than the air sac now.

I tested it in water and he floated how he should but I'm not sure if there was movement. The temperature was a constant 37.5 throughout the 28/31 days and the humidity was steady until lockdown (now high humidity) but something has happened, I'm afraid he might have drowned but there's no way for me to tell if he's alive or not. Please help! He's the only survivor.

 

[Keeley]

Update: there is a small thin yellow line on the outside of the egg around the air sac but now all the way around.

I candled the egg and saw only the top broad end of the egg was visible and the rest was dark, but there was a small circular part that looked like super thick blood vessels but round and not blood vessels (lol sorry I don't know how to explain it) but I'm super worried, still no movement. I know he's most likely dead now but I'm not going to crack it because I don't want to risk anything!

 

[Miss Lydia]

@WVduckchick ?

 

[WVduckchick]

Movement this late in the game can be very hard to detect, so I'd just give it more time.

Has the air cell drawn down? By this I mean when they get near hatching, the air cell not only tilts to one side, but also gets a bit mishapen, as they get into position.

Also if you candle along the line where the air cell meets the mass, you can sometimes notice the duckling pressing up against the membrane, into the air cell.

Good luck!!

 

[Keeley]

The

Movement this late in the game can be very hard to detect, so I'd just give it more time.

Has the air cell drawn down? By this I mean when they get near hatching, the air cell not only tilts to one side, but also gets a bit mishapen, as they get into position.

Also if you candle along the line where the air cell meets the mass, you can sometimes notice the duckling pressing up against the membrane, into the air cell.

Good luck!!

air cell did move down and everything was normal but today everything changed and the duck wasn't moving and the air cell had weird light shadows and the egg has turned yellow so I'm 99% sure the duckling has died now. We've given up and birth was unlikely anyway but now that the egg is filled with yellow I know he's not alive. Thank you though!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Very sorry

 

[Mama Runner]

I'm so sorry for you.

 

[Keeley]

T

I'm so sorry for you.

Thank you, I have a new incubator now and my duck is still laying so I've grabbed a couple more and will see how this goes again. I hope it's more successful!