From eggs to ducklings

[Knighstar679]

I moved my Maryland eggs over to the lockdown bator this evening. This puts them in with my still hatching Texas eggs. In the last two days on their dry incubation they dropped down a good chunk I hope it was enough to help them have a good hatch.



On my first egg that pipped it had no advancement outside of its slightly extended pip since yesterday through I can see some discoloration on the side of the egg. Plus where they membrane under the shell was showing was starting to look a yellow brown. I decided to pull it out and chipped off a bit of the shell moistened the membrane with oil and put it back into the incubator. I was afraid to open the membrane yet at this point.


The other two were peeping when I was putting it back and one even started pushing a bit more of the shell off.

 

[Knighstar679]

@WVduckchick
Is this normal?

I opened the membrane that the shell sat on because it was turning brown again. The little duckling inside reached out for a poke at the shell but couldn't reach far. I did a small chip away to see the membrane around the chick it was a little dry applied oil but its head looks like it under its foot, or between its legs. Not sure which. It was yawning and chewing so it isn't ready yet so more oil and back in the bator. But is she going to be able to hatch on her own in this position?

 

[WVduckchick]

@WVduckchick
Is this normal?

I opened the membrane that the shell sat on because it was turning brown again. The little duckling inside reached out for a poke at the shell but couldn't reach far. I did a small chip away to see the membrane around the chick it was a little dry applied oil but its head looks like it under its foot, or between its legs. Not sure which. It was yawning and chewing so it isn't ready yet so more oil and back in the bator. But is she going to be able to hatch on her own in this position?
View attachment 1473538

I’ve had a lot of foot over head lately.
Once you’ve started that much assisting, it’s rare for them to be able to get out without further assistance. Eventually you will need to remove more shell, and open the membrane more too. But wait for less yawning, more squirming, and of course for the veins to recede! You can safely break off any shell that isn’t touching the membrane now to make it easier to oil all of the exposed area. Just do it carefully.

 

[Knighstar679]

I’ve had a lot of foot over head lately.
Once you’ve started that much assisting, it’s rare for them to be able to get out without further assistance. Eventually you will need to remove more shell, and open the membrane more too. But wait for less yawning, more squirming, and of course for the veins to recede! You can safely break off any shell that isn’t touching the membrane now to make it easier to oil all of the exposed area. Just do it carefully.

Ok I was going slow on this one I didn't want to rush this and realize that I was jumping the gun on anything. It was squirming about peeping at me when I started opening the shell for it. So i will try to open more of the air cell for it and oil it up and leave it to absorb more veins and yolk.

The others are making slow progress but they are at least making some progress. This one had been at the same spot 36 hours + so I took a chance.

 

[WVduckchick]

Ok I was going slow on this one I didn't want to rush this and realize that I was jumping the gun on anything. It was squirming about peeping at me when I started opening the shell for it. So i will try to open more of the air cell for it and oil it up and leave it to absorb more veins and yolk.

The others are making slow progress but they are at least making some progress. This one had been at the same spot 36 hours + so I took a chance.

Slow is key. Now that you have it open, she can breathe, so no need to rush. Just keep that membrane moist and let her do her thing.
Great work so far. Hang in there!

 

[Knighstar679]

In other news one of its hatch mates is zippering as we speak! WOOTS!

 

[WVduckchick]

In other news one of its hatch mates is zippering as we speak! WOOTS!

 

[Knighstar679]

Update on the assistance egg. Still doing yawning/chewy thing. But it is showing more frustration at being in its position as it is starting to flail about now more intermittently. Makes lots more peeping along with the hatch mate.

Here is the update on my progress so far. I am not worried about pressing ahead quickly because it looks like there are two large veins right near that foot that she keeps trying to kick out with. I don't want to give her more room to knick it with her little nails. So just moistened everything checked how the rest where receding and seeing if I could see any yolk anywhere. (I can't, likely because of position at this point than it is all absorbed.) So until I see that get a bit smaller she is stuck with her little tiny egg prison. Which when i was looking at it last she seemed to want to try and push out of some more, and may have if she had leverage with that foot she is trying to use.


Next thing after laundry and dishes, to do while trying to not watch the incubator. Take a nap. I figured I would check ever couple hours how the oil is holding up moisture. Might be a long night or they might all surprise me.

 

[Knighstar679]

12:32 am I have my first duckling!

Here is a pic from only moments after it sprang from its shell!

 

[Knighstar679]

I now have two ducklings after a gut feeling told me to look at the second struggling egg. It had the same malposition as the first but almost all the veins where tiny.