Duckling hasn’t internally piped yet, he’s trying but I’m VERY CONCERNED about this bruise and odd air sac. I just added more photos to thread.

[AmyA248]

Good afternoon,

My Muscovy duckling is trying to internally pip, it’s possible that he did but just a bit into the air sac. But this morning I noticed this awful looking bruise!
He is on day 34. He’s been trying to pip for 2 days.
As usual there is an issue as there has been with all of my Muscovy eggs that I had to incubate since mom never went broody.
I’ve had to assist with all 3 so far unless we would not have them today.

What does this bruise mean?
Is he malpositioned and unable to get to the air sac? I clearly see “something” pushing on the air sac, but it could be his behind or another body part.
I’m very nervous about this and I don’t know what to do.
I had stopped turning the egg on the appropriate date and was about to put him into lockdown.
Am I supposed to put a safety hole over the bruise? But if I do I’m afraid I’m going to hurt the baby!
I hope someone could tell me what to do, as I’m a newbie still and I’ve never encountered a bruise like this before!

Very kindly,
Amy

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I can’t tell in any of those photos
Is the bruise inside that sir sac ? If not you need to make the safety hole

 

[BelovedBirds]

It’s a little scratch.
But look what I just noticed!
The air sac goes way up, which I didn’t see and baby is piping through the center of the egg at the largest part of the sac!
I’ve never seen anything like this, but baby is VERY active! First photo is baby piping and poking like crazy!
Oh I’m so worried!

It looks like the aircell is just slightly saddled, did you make the safety hole?

 

[AmyA248]

It looks like the aircell is just slightly saddled, did you make the safety hole?

Yes, I made the safety hole over the bruise. But I didn’t want to poke the baby because he’s right on the hole, so I don’t know if I got through the membrane so he can breathe. It’s soooo odd!
The air sac is saddled and he’s still alive and moving and in lockdown.
I know I’m not supposed to open the incubator during lockdown, but I’m so worried that I used a very strong military flashlight and looked without taking out the egg.
I’m I going to need to assist, or is he going to pass away?
I really don’t know what to do…

 

[BelovedBirds]

Yes, I made the safety hole over the bruise. But I didn’t want to poke the baby because he’s right on the hole, so I don’t know if I got through the membrane so he can breathe. It’s soooo odd!
The air sac is saddled and he’s still alive and moving and in lockdown.
I know I’m not supposed to open the incubator during lockdown, but I’m so worried that I used a very strong military flashlight and looked without taking out the egg.
I’m I going to need to assist, or is he going to pass away?
I really don’t know what to do…

Can you take a photo of the safety hole?
It's important that there's a little hole in the membrane, I expect there is, it would be very tricky to make a hole in the shell without piercing the membrane.

There's no need to candle right now, just let him do his thing- there's no way to say for sure if he'll need help. It just takes time and patience, he'll likely be able to hatch himself. If not we go at a slow pace.
For now he's okay, as long as he can get air.
Babies that miss the air cell take longer to hatch than normal, because their external pip is the equivalent of an internal pip, it can take days
Is baby chirping at all?

 

[AmyA248]

I can’t tell in any of those photos
Is the bruise inside that sir sac ? If not you need to make the safety hole

The bruise is not in the air sac, unfortunately I think he’s malpositioned and he’s pecking where his beak is.
I made the safety hole and was terrified I’d hurt him, I hope I got through the membrane so he can breathe!! I was so afraid of poking him that it took me forever.

If he makes it, tomorrow will be day 35.
Can he survive this, and will he need assistance or will he pass away?
I don’t know what to do, as each of my 3 current ducklings, each one had a different issue and I needed to assist.
The same thing happened last year, not one was able to hatch by itself, and the one I put my foot down and refused to intervene except with a safety hole, passed away. She obviously couldn’t hatch. I was gutted because I could have saved her.
I did an eggtopsy and she was absolutely perfect.

This has been so very stressful and I still have 17 incubating eggs left to go, all different ages.

Thank you for always being there for me.

 

[AmyA248]

Can you take a photo of the safety hole?
It's important that there's a little hole in the membrane, I expect there is, it would be very tricky to make a hole in the shell without piercing the membrane.

There's no need to candle right now, just let him do his thing- there's no way to say for sure if he'll need help. It just takes time and patience, he'll likely be able to hatch himself. If not we go at a slow pace.
For now he's okay, as long as he can get air.
Babies that miss the air cell take longer to hatch than normal, because their external pip is the equivalent of an internal pip, it can take days
Is baby chirping at all?

I can take a picture of the safety hole, but I’ll have to open the incubator. He’s in lockdown.
I’ll try to get on through the incubator.

Thank you and New Duck Mom for ALWAYS being there for me! Your the best and I couldn’t have done any of this without all of you here. What a blessing you all are.

 

[AmyA248]

I can take a picture of the safety hole, but I’ll have to open the incubator. He’s in lockdown.
I’ll try to get on through the incubator.

Thank you and New Duck Mom for ALWAYS being there for me! Your the best and I couldn’t have done any of this without all of you here. What a blessing you all are.

 

[BelovedBirds]

The bruise is not in the air sac, unfortunately I think he’s malpositioned and he’s pecking where his beak is.
I made the safety hole and was terrified I’d hurt him, I hope I got through the membrane so he can breathe!! I was so afraid of poking him that it took me forever.

If he makes it, tomorrow will be day 35.
Can he survive this, and will he need assistance or will he pass away?
I don’t know what to do, as each of my 3 current ducklings, each one had a different issue and I needed to assist.
The same thing happened last year, not one was able to hatch by itself, and the one I put my foot down and refused to intervene except with a safety hole, passed away. She obviously couldn’t hatch. I was gutted because I could have saved her.
I did an eggtopsy and she was absolutely perfect.

This has been so very stressful and I still have 17 incubating eggs left to go, all different ages.

Thank you for always being there for me.

Is it the same hen who laid the eggs last year?

 

[BelovedBirds]

It's super hard to see, can you see a hole or tear in the membrane? Have a look because it's important baby can breathe