First time hatching baby ducks....and I'm getting worried!!

[Bruiser21]

At what point do I help my baby duckies externally pip after they have internally pipped???

 

[Baylor]

it can be that day or several days from internal to external pipping. patience is the best piece of advice right now.

Dont touch the babies unless they are several days late.

 

[Bruiser21]

I'm just worried she is going to run out of air and that would kill me. I have about 25 eggs in an incubator at different stages and it's stressful. I have only one that has internally pipped about a day ago. I have the temp at 98 degrees and the humidity between 65%~70%. I just want her to make it. I guess I will try this whole patience thing out.

 

[nurse_turtle]

With all my waterfowl hatching eggs, once I see an internal pip, I make a tiny hole over the top of the air cell and put the egg into lockdown with high humidity. I use a steak knife and holding down near the sharp end, I tap ever so gently until a tiny hole is made. When I candle the eggs and an internal pip is made, I trace the shape of the air cell with pencil so I know I'm poking the hole into the air cell. Then remember that from external pip until hatch can take over 36 hours.

 

[Bruiser21]

Should I be worried that she hasn't made any noises yet or is that after they externally pip??

 

[duckyfromoz]

You can actually hear them tapping on the shell with their bills sometimes when they have internally pipped. Generally I find they dont peep much until they have broken the shell as well- but its not really until they are unzipping the egg that they get really noisy. If they have pipped into the aircell- making sure your humidity is kept up is really important. Keep misting the eggs when you open it to turn the others- and this may sound funny- but talk to the eggs- peep at them and maybe they will respond top you.

 

[Bruiser21]

I've talked to them everyday since day one.

I'm just a dork like that tho. I love my animals.

 

[Baylor]

I did the external pip to 3 babies as suggested above and all died because they were shrink wrapped. Dont touch them until it is late and even then know that you may be left with helpless or weak ducks. I have successfully hatched 3 babies that were late and all have lived so far. My youngest is around 2 months and she is significantly smaller than the others and not near as active but still thrives with the rest. I always am worried if anything comes around she will be the one to get sick or taken as prey. I know it is really really hard but wait unless they are late then search for a thread on how and what to do and expect to be at it for 12 hours for the best survival hope.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Opening the egg with a small hole in the aircell can contribute to the membrane drying out - especially when you have a fan in the incubator. While the hole can mean the duckling can breathe- with the membrane drying out they cannot turn and move properly to be able to hatch. Again it comes back to the issue of once you begin to help you may have to go all the way- sometimes leaving nature to take it course- or at least giving the duckling until the actual due time before helping the the best course of action.

 

[Mum]

Opening the egg with a small hole in the aircell can contribute to the membrane drying out - especially when you have a fan in the incubator

Or, cover the small hole with a teeny piece of clingfilm to prevent the membrane from drying out; its crucial the membrane does not dry out.