Duck eggs internal pip

[Kvanwaus]

Hello,
This is my first time raising mallard eggs. I started with five eggs and now have two. They were either infertile or died of some unknown cause.

One egg internally pipped about 12 hours ago and looks good. Taking its time.. I hadnt checked since to avoid any temp/humidity changes.
The second one I thought it was a quitter. I hadn't seen any movement for a couple days after they started wiggling so I went to take it out, candled, and suprised to see the tip of its beak and what looks like "chattering" movement. If I moved the egg while he was internally pipping will that cause problems? I kept it upright throughout and close as possible to his original position. The temp is close to 98-99 and 65% humidity. I've been keeping the incubator shut since.
Is there anything I can do to prevent last minute deaths? Things to watch for? The waiting is killing ME!

 

[FortCluck]

The chattering or mouth movement that you are seeing is the duckling absorbing the yolk. Mine take almost 72 hours from being internally pipped to hatching. I wouldn't do anything at this point besides sit on your hands so you are not messing with the incubator.

 

[Kvanwaus]

The chattering or mouth movement that you are seeing is the duckling absorbing the yolk. Mine take almost 72 hours from being internally pipped to hatching. I wouldn't do anything at this point besides sit on your hands so you are not messing with the incubator.

How long does it take for them to absorb the yolk?

 

[FortCluck]

How long does it take for them to absorb the yolk?

Depends... What day are they on?

I never expect ducklings to hatch early usually the hatch later and not sooner.

Do you have a way to take pics and attach them on here?

 

[Kvanwaus]

Depends... What day are they on?

I never expect ducklings to hatch early usually the hatch later and not sooner.

Do you have a way to take pics and attach them on here?

Theyre on day 26, so right on time. Not sure if they'll hatch tomorrow. I have a feeling they'll hatch day 28. The internal pipping on day 25 seems kind of early. The first egg made an external pip on day 26 just after 24 hours. It's very faint in the pic but definitely there! Second egg with the two X's internally pipped day 26 no external pip yet. He was very shallow in the egg when I first saw it which has me worried. The air cell in egg 2 wasnt as deep as I wanted it to be.
temp on the hygrometer is a little off. The other calibrated thermometer is spot on for 98-99F.
Is 65% humidity high enough for an externally pipped duck egg? Will it affect the later egg?

 

[Kvanwaus]

Theyre on day 26, so right on time. Not sure if they'll hatch tomorrow. I have a feeling they'll hatch day 28. The internal pipping on day 25 seems kind of early. The first egg made an external pip on day 26 just after 24 hours. It's very faint in the pic but definitely there! Second egg with the two X's internally pipped day 26 no external pip yet. He was very shallow in the egg when I first saw it which has me worried. The air cell in egg 2 wasnt as deep as I wanted it to be.
temp on the hygrometer is a little off. The other calibrated thermometer is spot on for 98-99F.
Is 65% humidity high enough for an externally pipped duck egg? Will it affect the later egg?

Update: both babies hatched just fine today! Theyre fluffy and warm snoozing in the brooder.