Duckling hatching at wrong end.....Has pipped, we have assisted a little to get him/her oxygen. But now it's been nearly 2 days....

[Lucy O]

This is our first hatch. We saw an external pip in the wrong end of the egg 2 nights ago, but it was not through the shell and started to discolour around there in a circle shape. Then last night I decided to try and open it up so the duck would have oxygen. Now it's a whole day again later and the duckling just sort of peeps at us and yawns sometimes, sometimes shakes its head but doesn't appear to be trying to come out. I've dabbed the yellowing external membrane a couple of times, and the hole we've made is about the size of a 10 cent piece (quarter dollar). It's now 1:15am and I'm wondering whether I take him/her out again and slowly open up more of the shell, or do I just leave it be until the morning, even though the white membrane is yellowing out again. Its breathing quite rhythmically, and vocalising occasionally, and often in response to our voices, and it also does little up and down and left and right shudders with its beak, but not against anything because that's where the hole is, so it just wiggles its beak in thin air, but it doesn't seem able or keen to manouver into any other position (it is a big egg and big duckling too). I am feeling really responsible because I opened it up to start, but now I don't know how long it is safe to be left for with its beak out and outside air able to go in. Humidity is 76 and temp is 37.3. I'm not sure what to do. Any advice much appreciated!!

 

[MysteryChicken]

This is our first hatch. We saw an external pip in the wrong end of the egg 2 nights ago, but it was not through the shell and started to discolour around there in a circle shape. Then last night I decided to try and open it up so the duck would have oxygen. Now it's a whole day again later and the duckling just sort of peeps at us and yawns sometimes, sometimes shakes its head but doesn't appear to be trying to come out. I've dabbed the yellowing external membrane a couple of times, and the hole we've made is about the size of a 10 cent piece (quarter dollar). It's now 1:15am and I'm wondering whether I take him/her out again and slowly open up more of the shell, or do I just leave it be until the morning, even though the white membrane is yellowing out again. Its breathing quite rhythmically, and vocalising occasionally, and often in response to our voices, and it also does little up and down and left and right shudders with its beak, but not against anything because that's where the hole is, so it just wiggles its beak in thin air, but it doesn't seem able or keen to manouver into any other position (it is a big egg and big duckling too). I am feeling really responsible because I opened it up to start, but now I don't know how long it is safe to be left for with its beak out and outside air able to go in. Humidity is 76 and temp is 37.3. I'm not sure what to do. Any advice much appreciated!!

The yawning is usually a sign they're still absorbing the yolk. He/she maybe a slow Hatcher, & probably will take alittle while longer regardless of what end it pipped at.

It'll most likely be ready to hatch tonight, or tomorrow morning.

 

[Lucy O]

The yawning is usually a sign they're still absorbing the yolk. He/she maybe a slow Hatcher, & probably will take alittle while longer regardless of what end it pipped at.

It'll most likely be ready to hatch tonight, or tomorrow morning.

Thankyou. I've decided to try and get a little bit of sleep now. I was just worried that there was something dangerous about letting him/her just sit at the opening like that for so long....

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thankyou. I've decided to try and get a little bit of sleep now. I was just worried that there was something dangerous about letting him/her just sit at the opening like that for so long....

You're welcome.
I'd probably assist if it doesn't hatch within the timeline. So I'd help it out if it doesn't hatch tomorrow night, it might be safe then.

 

[Corbdee]

I’m not a professional but I do know that that is normal. It’s just it absorbing the yolk sack...it looks like @MysteryChicken covered most of it but I figured you could use a second opinion. There’s an article (I can’t find the link) that talks about exactly what you described being it absorbing the yolk sack

 

[Lucy O]

I’m not a professional but I do know that that is normal. It’s just it absorbing the yolk sack...it looks like @MysteryChicken covered most of it but I figured you could use a second opinion. There’s an article (I can’t find the link) that talks about exactly what you described being it absorbing the yolk sack

Thankyou, it hasn't absorbed it all yet and eyes still closed so I think I assisted too early, but it is a huge duckling and being down the narrow end it didn't have a chance of getting out. Plus the air sac was too big (first time for us) so it had no wiggle room. It is out now and I'm keeping it with me for body warmth - it's where it seems happiest, but there's a slight clicking noise with each breath, and the yolk is still connected. Not sure where to go from here. I tried giving it some sugar water after reading something about this, any other advice much appreciated. We've had another one hatch in the incubator - it pipped at the right end and is doing great

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thankyou, it hasn't absorbed it all yet and eyes still closed so I think I assisted too early, but it is a huge duckling and being down the narrow end it didn't have a chance of getting out. Plus the air sac was too big (first time for us) so it had no wiggle room. It is out now and I'm keeping it with me for body warmth - it's where it seems happiest, but there's a slight clicking noise with each breath, and the yolk is still connected. Not sure where to go from here. I tried giving it some sugar water after reading something about this, any other advice much appreciated. We've had another one hatch in the incubator - it pipped at the right end and is doing great

I think if I remember correctly, they say to put the duckling, or chick, in a cup, or a plastic container with the bottom lined with paper towels, in the incubator to allow the chick, or duckling to absorb it's yolk the rest of the way.

 

[Banty crazy]

Thankyou, it hasn't absorbed it all yet and eyes still closed so I think I assisted too early, but it is a huge duckling and being down the narrow end it didn't have a chance of getting out. Plus the air sac was too big (first time for us) so it had no wiggle room. It is out now and I'm keeping it with me for body warmth - it's where it seems happiest, but there's a slight clicking noise with each breath, and the yolk is still connected. Not sure where to go from here. I tried giving it some sugar water after reading something about this, any other advice much appreciated. We've had another one hatch in the incubator - it pipped at the right end and is doing great

 

[Banty crazy]

Sorry I’m still learning how to use the site. I’ve been hatching eggs for 20 years so I know a little about unretracted yoke sacks. How large is the opening where the yoke sack goes into the body? How large is the yoke sack. If it’s small, sometimes you can massage it back into the body but that also depends on how large the opening is? You can’t just leave it out there without some kind of moisture if it’s large. I’ve taken chicks to the vet and basically he just snipped it off. One chick needed a stitch to close his tummy. The longer it’s out the longer it’ll have the opening going inside it so more chances of infection. I sure hope it will be ok. Let me know what it looks like.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Any update?