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
