Eggs not pipped yet. Is it too late?

[ProudRedneck]

I've actually had a lot of eggs (that hatched) where the chick moved UP, making it look like two air cells...

My concern is that where the shell is missing (1st pic) is not on the same side as the air cell in pic 2 & 3. I had to turn it over to get the picture during candling so I could show what the air sac looked like.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

My concern is that where the shell is missing (1st pic) is not on the same side as the air cell in pic 2 & 3. I had to turn it over to get the picture during candling so I could show what the air sac looked like.

If baby is in the wrong end it can still hatch
It will just take longer as it skipped the air cell step
48-72 from that pip
Because it made its own pip I wouldn’t worry about it
But mom should be staying on them now that they are hatching

 

[ProudRedneck]

OMG !!!!!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 

[Canadian Wind]

GRATS! Good job, Daffy!

 

[ProudRedneck]

We have 4 so far with 3 on their way out of their shell

 

[Miss Lydia]

How exciting!! Congrats!!

 

[Canadian Wind]

Wow, much more fertility than last time!

 

[Miss Lydia]

They sure are adorable

 

[Canadian Wind]

They sure are adorable

It's a trap!

 

[ProudRedneck]

We end the day with 8 out of 12 hatched.
6 unassisted & 2 assisted
I candled the remaining 4 and I don't believe they're alive. I'm going to give them another day before removing them so Daffy can focus on her living babies.

When I tell y'all I was like a kid sitting out there with Daffy excitedly waiting for one to hatch...OMG

I can't begin to express how grateful I am to God for giving me this opportunity. From frantically researching what to do to take care of a single stray duckling we found in the road a little over a year ago, to now sitting beside her like a midwife, removing shells out of the nest each time one hatched, to make room for the babies to spread out

The first four

First assisted hatch. The white membrane, where the shell was gone, was hardened.

I got the baby to this point (pictured below) by using warm water on a q-tip to rehydrate the white stuff. It was starting to shiver (I think), so I stopped here and put it back underneath Daffy for her to warm it back up. Daffy did one thing and POP, out it came!

The second assist, I made the decision to help it because of the eggs that I don't think are alive anymore and based on the ones that already hatched. Eggs dated 4/1 & 4/2 are two eggs that I believe are quitters. Considering 4/4 & 4/5 already hatched and were almost completely dry, and it being the last remaining egg with a pip, I figured I needed to intervene.

I didn't feel comfortable with separating the baby from the egg cause it had one thin membrane, that looked like it was going inside the baby's vent AND there was a bunch of "stuff" still in the egg with the baby so, I returned it to Daffy as pictured above. Daffy flicked the shell away immediately and TADA #8 was born.

I put a zip tie on both assisted ducklings so I'll know which ones they are if they fail to thrive.

Oh and Daisy has bumblefoot so, yeah, I'm treating him for that now. He's doing a LOT of chasing (his daughter, whom he can't catch).

Tomorrow is a new day