Four days until hatch day, pecking sounds, should I raise humidity now?

[Gordon093]

I have 12 mallard eggs on day 24, there is an egg in there already pecking and scratching, should I go ahead and take the turner out and raise the humidity? A lot of them have saddled air cells. Knowledge of any of this will help and I would greatly appreciate it!!

This is my first time hatching anything.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Mallard eggs will often hatch before 28 days, so I'd take out the turner and raise the humidity.

 

[Debbie292d]

I have hatched many dozen shipped eggs, and saddled eggs are common. They hatch too, although may need assistance as the air cell isn't where it should be. I've not had to help too many, so what I did was if they pipped, I waited on those for a day but they made it out. It was the ones that didn't pip. So those, I waited until the pipped ones were out so I could safely open the incubator.

I then candled and tried to find where their head or the air cell was, then using the side of a butter knife, tapped to make a crack, and used a tweezers to pull away the shell and membrane. If it's bleeding, stop. I was trying to make sure I could see it's beak, so I'd know at least it was getting oxygen. From there, sometimes they finished, but I've had a couple that didn't and I had to help.

Weak ones, I leave in the incubator for an extra day past the others. That seems to always help them come around.

Here's a great article on how to assist:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

I wish you a great hatch!

 

[Gordon093]

Thank you for your reply! So far 7 of the 12 have hatched! There is one in there that had its membrane showing. The other ducklings were pulling on it and now it is oozing blood!!! Help!!!

 

[Gordon093]

I read you could put a little corn starch on there…??? I put a dab of it on the outside. I hope it helps!!!!

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Did the cornstarch stop the bleeding? How is he doing now?

 

[Gordon093]

It did! I also put a little coconut oil on the dried out membrane. It is trying to hatch right now! It’s having a hard time coming out because it pipped on the smaller end of the shell but making its way out.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Ok good! Most of the time, they can make their way out just fine if they pip on the wrong end. They do need help sometimes though.