External pip to unzip!

Gerty0630

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One of my pekin duck eggs externally pipped yesterday around 3pm. I know it is still relatively early on and everyone says ducks drive you mad waiting to unzip out of their shells. I've read it's normal for them to take 24-36 hours to unzip after external pipping, just making sure that's correct as I don't want to wait too long! Attached is a photo when i left for work a couple hours ago!
 

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Yep, that's right! They take a lot of time. I'd wait at least 36 hours before you start to worry :)
So its been about 28 hours now and its still in the same status no more progress. Externally pipped. I can see it breathing and hear it chirp every once in a while. If i wake up in the morning and it still hasnt unzipped should i start an assist?! @WVduckchick
 
Is this Dr. Suess time? I wouldn't worry too much, no need to be in a rush. Wait 1 more day, until then, hope for the best and pray. Believe in Mother Nature, mother always knows best......... so relax, enjoy, have fun.... and put your silly little head to rest.
 
Is this Dr. Suess time? I wouldn't worry too much, no need to be in a rush. Wait 1 more day, until then, hope for the best and pray. Believe in Mother Nature, mother always knows best......... so relax, enjoy, have fun.... and put your silly little head to rest.
I understand mother nature knows best but ive never heard of waiting over 2 days with no progress. I am not one to intervene early but i know some babies need a little help which i am more than willing to give if need be. I want live babies not dead ones.
 
I understand mother nature knows best but ive never heard of waiting over 2 days with no progress. I am not one to intervene early but i know some babies need a little help which i am more than willing to give if need be. I want live babies not dead ones.
Over 2 days with no progress? I would indeed start to worry, I must confess. The baby might used up all his energy by now to try and break out of it's shell, I believe it's harder for ducks to as they have a flat bill? You see, baby chicks have this weird thing on the tip of their beaks to help them break free, with ducks I've no clue, never owned or reared one so I'm clueless as can be. Perhaps someone with more experience can help and chime in....... but if it was me and I was you, I'd already be on the floor crying. :(
 
Over 2 days with no progress? I would indeed start to worry, I must confess. The baby might used up all his energy by now to try and break out of it's shell, I believe it's harder for ducks to as they have a flat bill? You see, baby chicks have this weird thing on the tip of their beaks to help them break free, with ducks I've no clue, never owned or reared one so I'm clueless as can be. Perhaps someone with more experience can help and chime in....... but if it was me and I was you, I'd already be on the floor crying. :(
No no it hasnt been 2 days. Its been 28 hours so far. I was asking if by the morning when i wake up, which would be about 38 hours, should i start an assist!
 
No no it hasnt been 2 days. Its been 28 hours so far. I was asking if by the morning when i wake up, which would be about 38 hours, should i start an assist!

It’s a very tough judgement call. Some can take 40-48 hours without issue. But those are the scary hours.
The things to watch for are if the membrane starts turning brown. It should stay white to wet-gray looking. If it starts turning brown, then the chick ‘could’ be getting stuck. Even though we can’t see it, they continue moving around slightly while we are waiting. When they get too still is when the membrane starts drying out and locking them in place.
So I would try to keep a check every hour or so, and watch that membrane! Ducklings also have a habit of smacking the shell more than once before starting to zip. So don’t be surprised if that happens.
 
Is the pip still pointed downward toward the floor like in the pic? And can you still make out movements, or hear peeps?

You can peck on the window, talk to it, sing to it, anything to keep it active so you can detect life.
(I have a magnifying glass beside my incubator to look for even the slightest movement of the shell or membrane) :D :old
 

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