first time incubating

[WalnutHill]

I'm thinking it might be time to open a tiny hole in the air cell

I agree. Make just a tiny hole in the air cell through both the shell and the membrane, being careful not to hit him, and put the egg right back in the incubator.

 

[chickenlittle84]

I'm thinking it might be time to open a tiny hole in the air cell

I've been considering it but I'm scared after what happened with the chicks. My son will hate me if I kill his duck. He told me it was my fault our baby chickens died because I opened them. He doesn't understand that they weren't going to hatch. I feel like a couple of them might have survived if I had of helped sooner though. Such a hard call to make

 

[WVduckchick]

I've been considering it but I'm scared after what happened with the chicks. My son will hate me if I kill his duck. He told me it was my fault our baby chickens died because I opened them. He doesn't understand that they weren't going to hatch. I feel like a couple of them might have survived if I had of helped sooner though. Such a hard call to make

How old is he? If he's old enough, maybe he can help you make the decision? I mean, I hate to lay that on a kid, but if he feels that strongly, and has a say in helping or not, maybe he wont feel so bad about doing whichever you both decide is the right thing to do. Or maybe that's a bad idea too. Dont let me talk you into doing anything for sure! You have to do what you are comfortable with....

 

[chickenlittle84]

Well I decided to make a view hole. A bit bigger then intended but I finally managed to see inside. Definitely a live duckling in there. I don't know if he's ready to come out though. Membrane was really white and dry like paper. I moistened it a bit with a cotton swab and can see some blood vessels in it still. Should I just leave him alone now. Do I need to keep moistening the membrane? Or increase humidity?

 

[chickenlittle84]

My son is 5 and at school right now. I'm hoping the duck will be ready by the time he comes home and he can help me decide if we should try and help him out of the egg. Hopefully he's not mad at me for deciding to open it without him:/

 

[WVduckchick]

Did you happen to take a pic? If you haven't done so, I would wrap the egg (just the bottom half, away from the hole) in a damp paper towel. Sit it so that the end with the hole is a little elevated. And yes, I would keep that membrane moist. You can dampen with water, but I have also heard of using a little bacitracin ointment, but I'd like WalnutHill's advice on that too. The ointment is said to not dry out as fast as the water does. What is your humidity at?

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh, just 5. Well maybe the baby will be out or ready before he gets home from school.

And I forgot to ask, how "soupy" does it look under the membrane? Very fluid, or partly dry?

 

[WalnutHill]

Yes, a light ointment without pain reliever (like Bacitracin) swabbed VERY lightly on the membrane will keep it soft. Be very, very careful not to puncture the membrane. Then place the egg back in the incubator and don't touch.

It sounds as if your humidity is low if the membrane was white inside an unpipped egg. Ducks require high humidity, misting, etc. But I am no help with duck specific questions.

 

[chickenlittle84]

I tried to get a pic but my phone camera doesn't flash so it just came out very dark. I don't have anything to measure the humidity or bacitracin ointment: ( there is definitely a bit of fluid in there but mostly bird and he really moved when I touched him. I tried wrapping damp paper towel around the chicken eggs when I opened them but I found it made them really cold and hard to keep at the right temp ( maybe partly why some died) is there a better way? Like can I just put some damp cloths near him to increase humidity without it touching the shell?

 

[chickenlittle84]