First time hatcher- externally pipped duckling may need help?

[Starlin]

Update: We have had two babies hatch just perfectly, easy-breezy. That first egg remained steadfastly stuck- when I picked it up I could feel baby straining and the shell had several more cracks but the membrane stayed intact except for the one hole. So I helped a bit with tearing the membrane and taking off a couple of bits of egg and then the baby took over and did the rest. It was pretty sleepy at first and did briefly try to crawl back into its egg, then napped with its head in the shell for a while. Guess it really liked it in there! But I left all three in the incubator for a few hours and it perked right up.

Now they are in the brooder, but one of the easy hatchers seems weak and sleepy. So I don't have much hope for that one.

In the meantime, my daughter "rescued" one of the outdoor babies that she thought seemed weak. It took a nap and then perked right up with food and water, so it was probably just fine out there... but it sure is cute! I may kidnap a couple more to be raised inside so we have more friendly ducks.

Pics are before assisting with the hatch, after, and baby! With bonus "baby napping with its head in the egg."

 

[WVduckchick]

Great job!

 

[Starlin]

Thanks! ♡

 

[Starlin]

We have two more peeping eggs, one which has been pipped internally since at least my morning check and one which has had a small external pip since last night. I put safety holes in each this afternoon, after practicing on chicken eggs from the fridge, but I suspect I will have to try helping them. But I think that is a project for tomorrow. Today, at least, is a win!

 

[Starlin]

This morning the egg that pipped just a tiny bit a couple of day ago hatched just perfectly! I had made a safety hole and last night I chip a tiny bit of shell off, then she did the rest.

Just now I opened up the air cell at the top of the egg that internally pipped at least 2 days ago. The membrane was tough and papery and dry, but when I put coconut oil on it I saw lots of blood vessels still. So, no idea if I helped or harmed its chances but I put it back and we'll see how it goes.

 

[Starlin]

Another update:

That first baby, the one who made a hole and then took days to hatch and needed help, is now the biggest, strongest and prettiest of the babies. We have had 4 more strong, healthy ducklings hatch, including an egg I almost tossed because it had developed gross dark blotches. Go figure. The most recent baby just hatched tonight- 4 days after the first one pipped and at 32.5 days. These babies just keep surprising me!

The baby that pipped internally hung out peeping after I opened the air sac yesterday. Today I came home to find it trying to push its bum past its beak out the hole, so I helped it along. It is definitely one which would not have hatched on its own- its neck is always turned, beak is a bit funny and bumpy, and it can't really stand. We have been trying to just make it comfortable until it passes, but this oddly put together little thing is strangely tenacious and has made it 8 hours already.

We've had several losses with the outside babies and I'm not sure why- well-formed babies who seemed to be doing well, no visible injuries- but the remaining 5 babies seem to be doing okay. There were 2 eggs starting to hatch in the nest today and the moms were off with the other babies, so I brought them in to finish hatching inside. I can't imagine them doing well being at least 2 days behind the rest out there.

So here we are- 6 rambunctious ducklings in the brooder, one just hatched and another that looks imminent, one or two more pipped, and little "Quasimodo" in palliative care.

I'm mostly updating this so that the next person searching has one more thread to read when they are up all night staring at eggs trying to figure this business out.

 

[C3 mommy]

I love reading the updates but what makes them even better is pictures!

 

[Starlin]

In the morning! I have been too busy to take any decent pictures today. It is 1AM here- I thought I'd just hold the funny little duck until he passed but he had other plans, so I guess I will snuggle him into the brooder and see what tomorrow brings.