First successful Call duck hatchling...I think...

[mikecoscia]

Well after having 3 failed eggs in a crappy R-Com mini (all were deformed), and one failed in my new Oct 20 Eco, I might have my first successful hatch. Beak looks good and head looks round...lol.

The little guy internally pipped on Monday morning (day 24), so moved him into a hovabator (still air) that held a water wrigglers internal temp at 98F. Tuesday morning there was no progress, so put a small whole in the air cell. Today (day 26), still no progress, but I could heard him/her pecking at the shell and squeaking. So I went ahead began to remove some of the shell this afternoon. Saw the veins were not dried out so left him/her lone for a few hours. Came back and removed a little more shell so he/she can get his head out and that is when I took the picture above.

There is still some remaining yolk that needs to be reabsorbed, maybe about a penny-nickel size. Now he/she is just relaxing with his/her beak under his/her wing. I know to leave him in the bator at least till his yolk sac is fully absorbed and he/she fluffs up. I assume that will be around 24 hours, should I wait any longer?

I have a brooder set up and ready to go, just need to get the temp around 90ish. This is the one I have....

Any other suggestions?

 

[Katy]

With that much blood and yolk sac you should have just left him alone.....he wasn't ready to hatch yet.

 

[mikecoscia]

Quote:
I thought so too, but I acted based on the information from Sundown Waterfowl's website. There is just so much contradictory information on helping or not helping and when and how to do it. With my last failures I decided to give it a shot. Hopefully he/she will be fine.

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

he should do fine...we help now and then too.

Just make sure the yolk stays moist..I spray inside the shell with pretty warm water and leave the bottom of the shell on, he will kick it off, after that leave him in the bator another 24 hours.

 

[mikecoscia]

Mrs. Turbo :

he should do fine...we help now and then too.

Just make sure the yolk stays moist..I spray inside the shell with pretty warm water and leave the bottom of the shell on, he will kick it off, after that leave him in the bator another 24 hours.

Thank you for the helpful and encouraging advice

.​

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I also agree with Mrs. Turbo.

I would also get some vitamins and electrolytes and add that to his water for the first couple days.

Just make sure to keep the yolk sac moist so that it can absorb.

 

[mikecoscia]

Well the little guy seems to be doing fine. He kicked off the shell this morning and the yolk sac was gone. By lunch he was hoping around a bit and still is now, although not standing up and walking.

Not really liking the cozy-breeder, temps are around 100F. So going to pick up a 100watt bulb tomorrow and clip on a lamp to a rubbermaid tote.

Should I leave him in the bator till he can stand up on his on or move him into the brooder regardless tomorrow?

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Adorable. Move him into the brooder tomorrow. I usually leave the call babies in the incubator for 24 hours. They dont walk much in the incubator but once they go into the brooder they run around.

You did a great job with him.

 

[mikecoscia]

Quote:
Thanks Sundown, means alot hearing it from you

. I got three more eggs due to hatch next week, hopefully everything goes smoothly and this little one can have some company.

 

[CindyS]

Good luck with him but he is not out of the woods yet. Ceaserean hatched ducklings are more prone to navel infections and death. Make sure you keep him on a clean surface for a few days until he completley heals. Im sorry but these kind of posts make me very angry. So many people are getting paranoid thinking their ducklings will need help when they don't. Please give the others a chance before ripping them out of their shells