Duck eggs late hatching?

[FunnyBunnies12]

I tell you, this thread is teaching me a lot as well. That is why I try not to say to much. So don't listen to me.

 

[Newbie_Hatcher]

Hi, it definitely is very hard to know when to intervene

i think i'll have to at some point, it really is just knowing when. lol i don't feel controlled - a bit of a nervous wreck more like..

and duckyfromoz, ok, well I think i'll have to leave it for a while... maybe the little gooey bit could be some leaked yolk? the membrane is white and a bit like paper if I don't moisten it, but when wet it is more see through. The duckling has also made a little tear in the membrane, I think by accident through struggling, but it's not too serious looking, and no bleeding so

.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Thats good! A small tear will allow it to move better, and no bleeding means that it is very close to being ready. The membrane is what I thought from what you have described. After having so many different kinds of problems with hatching, I will only assist now by wetting membranes. A while ago I had a little one rupture the yolk with its foot. I got home from work just in time as much longer and it would have drown. Every time it moved to get its head above the yolk - more would leak out. I quickly drained the egg- and the duckling forced its way out of a small hole very quickly after that- no unzipping- It just PUSHED!

Just try to keep it moist. I usually wet down the egg every two to four hours depending on how far along they are. But it sounds like things are very close now and hopefully you will soon have your little one out. There is usually some gooey stuff in the egg that comes out when they hatch- it may not be the yolk. Give it an hour or so and wet it again - especially around where the tear is to ensure it doesnt get stuck to the baby. Talking to it could help as well. They do talk to each other from the egg while hatching and that encourages them all to keep moving.

FunnyBunnies12...we all have to start somewhere...I have been raising waterfowl for 26 years and there is still alot I havent learnt or experienced yet. Being a part of a forum like this exposes people to all sorts of issues- good and bad they they may never encounter in their own flock.

 

[katharinad]

I think she will be fine. At least she has experience with chicken eggs, that helps a lot. The key is to keep an eye on the membrane and slowly peel it back or shrink wrapping will happen at this point. Patience is the big game. Have some electrolytes ready and give it to the baby once out.

 

[tia]

I had one that had pipped and I used a q-tip with warm water to keep the membrane on top from drying out, but it was ready to come out. I eventually pulled some of the top off and put it back in the incubator and was thinking it wouldn't make it. It finally worked its way out and survived. It is hard to know what to do and every case is different. I hope it works out.

 

[Newbie_Hatcher]

Hey guys,
While waiting for a while to make sure there would be no bleeding if I intervened the baby weakened a lot, so we decided to take some more shell off as it was clearly getting more tired. It now has about half of the shell removed. Luckily no bleeding, but the baby is very weak and still in the membrane. I couldn't tear too much of it as I can't see if there are any leftover vessels anywhere. I've put it back in the bator for now and will try again in about an hour. It's not looking good, but I have to at least try. It looks as though it is in fact shrink wrapped - It certainly wouldn't have been able to even pip on it's own - the beak seems to be wedged between it's legs maybe, but not entirely sure on that one - just a very awkward looking position. We've put another warm wet paper towel on the exposed membrane. It's been over 24 hours since our first assistance and it's still hanging in there. It was doing all it could to try and move, but was extremely weak

. Thank you so much for all of your help, and I'll keep posting any updates.

The incubator is definitely going to go after this.

 

[katharinad]

I would peel the membrane. Just stop when it bleeds. A little bit of blood is ok. The yolk can still get absorbed without the shell or membrane. It just needs to sleep for a while in the incubator. Get a paper towel and have it hang into the incubator over the side dipping into the water below. This will wick up more water and increase the humidity. Have electrolytes ready to boost energy in the duckling.

Try to release the head out of this.

 

[Newbie_Hatcher]

Thank you katharinad, I think I will, it needs to get free from it. I'll start again in a little while. It's getting late here, so I'd rather try and get it free before it gets too late. Thanks

 

[Newbie_Hatcher]

Final Update - Unfortunately when I went to take the baby out of the bator to try and remove the membrane it had died

We opened it up a bit to see it's position and it was very stuck to the membrane and seems to have suffocated as the membrane was attached to its beak. There was also a thin vein still running through, so whether we would have acted earlier or not I think it would have had a slim chance of living. It's head was between it's legs. I don't think I'll be hatching again for a while. Excluding the bad positioning, the baby was fully formed. I think this was a good lesson if anything. Thanks for the advice and help though everyone, you're all stars

 

[duckyfromoz]

So sorry you didnt have a better outcome. Not being in the correct position can be a sign of many things- not only less than perfect incubating conditions. It sounds like it may not have made it anyway if you had of helped earlier- or given more assistance because of the veins still carrying blood. Sometimes they dont hatch for a reason that is not apparent from looking at the outside.