February hatch-a-long 2018

[Jesusfreak101]

When should I help this duck... It's been pipped since yesterday around noon it hasn't done anything its beak is still moving (opening and closing) he or she keeps chirping when it hears me but outside of that it's doing nothing.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Oh and it wiggles like crazy but nothing happening the humidity is 45-60 the temp is 100.4

 

[Abraeri]

Oh and it wiggles like crazy but nothing happening the humidity is 45-60 the temp is 100.4

This is my first time hatching and I have duck eggs too; I thought humidity should be in the 70's? Mine went into lockdown today and I poured in a lot of water to get it to 70.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

On mine I can't because I also have chicken eggs hatching so I trying to keep it where they both can hatch

 

[Abraeri]

On mine I can't because I also have chicken eggs hatching so I trying to keep it where they both can hatch

Oh ok I honestly can't help you but I hope someone else will

 

[JaeG]

When should I help this duck... It's been pipped since yesterday around noon it hasn't done anything its beak is still moving (opening and closing) he or she keeps chirping when it hears me but outside of that it's doing nothing.

You may have to help it if your humidity is that low. It's quite possibly having it's breathing restricted by the membrane drying out. Peel back the shell to see if there are any live, blood filled veins in the membrane. If you can't see any start peeling it back too, but check when you can to ensure the duckling has absorbed all of its yolk. If it hasn't, leave it sitting in a cup with enough membrane peeled back so it can breathe freely and hopefully it will finish absorbing.

A few days at higher humidity shouldn't worry your chicken eggs - they may just need a few days with no water in there to compensate.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

They are all hatching at the same time which is part of the issue

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Ok well I pulled some she'll back its membrane is white part of it tore and has a vein so I am leaving it. It didn't bleed but the vein still has wet blood so yeah.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Leav e it or finish helping don't know. I remove the shell in a circle from where it had pipped so it just has membrane to break through

 

[JaeG]

Leav e it or finish helping don't know. I remove the shell in a circle from where it had pipped so it just has membrane to break through

You can use cooking oil (coconut or olive is best) on the exposed membrane to keep it damp and stop it drying out any more. I haven't hatched ducks but there are a couple of members I could alert that know their ducks if you feel like you need more advice. Is the duckling gasping every now and then? That usually means it's still absorbing the yolk. Just bump up your humidity, oil the membrane and try not to panic. I think ducklings can take awhile.