First Duck Hatch.. freaking out!

[JulieCapoolie]

Today is day 29, I have one duckling that hatched perfectly on day 28. Two other eggs externally pipped around the same time, one of them started unzipping last night around 3 AM, and now nothing is happening eight hours later. I can see in The opening breathing in and out, should I wait, or help? My other duckling is running around chasing me every time I come into the room and he sees me. I’m worried something will happen to him before he has his friend? And if the other two eggs don’t hatch, he will be lonely. I can’t believe how stressful this is, lol. My humidity is between 75 and 78% since lockdown. I kept my humidity between 55 and 60 the entire incubation. Temperature has been at 98.5 since lockdown. What should I do? Help would be appreciated!

 

[Floof]

I would wait. Hatching is exhausting and they do take breaks to recharge before pushing out.

 

[quackingdom]

There are parts of the hatching process that seem to take forever, but zipping doesn't. Zipping usually takes less than an hour, so if a duckling stops during zipping, there's a good chance it's stuck.

If you're sure it actually started zipping (you could upload a picture if you're not sure), it might need help now.

 

[JulieCapoolie]

Is he backwards?

 

[JulieCapoolie]

There are parts of the hatching process that seem to take forever, but zipping doesn't. Zipping usually takes less than an hour, so if a duckling stops during zipping, there's a good chance it's stuck.

If you're sure it actually started zipping (you could upload a picture if you're not sure), it might need help now.

 

[Floof]

Is he backwards?

It does look as if it has pipped at the wrong end. You could try gradually chipping away at the shell to help it but sometimes that causes more harm than good.

 

[quackingdom]

Yes, he's backwards. It doesn't look like he has start zipping yet, so he may not be ready to hatch yet. Can you tell where his bill is?

 

[JulieCapoolie]

It does look as if it has pipped at the wrong end. You could try gradually chipping away at the shell to help it but sometimes that causes more harm than good.

He hatched!!! Now I have another that stopped hours ago as well.

 

[JulieCapoolie]

Yes, he's backwards. It doesn't look like he has start zipping yet, so he may not be ready to hatch yet. Can you tell where his bill is?

He hatched.. backwards. Now the other has no movement, and stopped hours ago.

 

[quackingdom]

He hatched.. backwards. Now the other has no movement, and stopped hours ago.

I'm glad he hatched!

Whether you open the incubator to check if this one is alive depends on how comfortable you are with breaking the no-opening lockdown rule. I personally am fine with opening an incubator during lockdown because I know I can keep the humidity from plummeting. For you it might not be worth the risk.