Hands on hatching and help

[ThIsafricanhome]

I need some help! I have 7 very important duck eggs in the brooder right now. They pipped yesterday. One seems to be malpositioned - i made its pip bigger to look because a foot was there and had read it may not be able to get out and need some help please! How do you know when they are positioned wrong and to just wait? No unzipping from the others yet either.

i have a picture to post of the chick and egg to see if its malpositioned in the egg and needs help, but cant figure it out on my ipad.

 

[ThIsafricanhome]

Here is a pic. Opinions please!!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Here is a pic. Opinions please!!

How long has it been externally pipped for now?

 

[ThIsafricanhome]

Not a full 24 hours yet (will be this morning in a few) which is why Im not in a huge panic or anything, I just dont know when to help and if this chick is malpositioned as I read on another thread. This is my first time incubating and I have the added stress of these being the only khaki campbells in this part of the country, possibly the entire country (Congo, Africa).

 

[Ravynscroft]

Here is a pic. Opinions please!!

First, take a nice, deep breath... Ducks take FOREVER to hatch... it feels that way at least, lol... only 1 day from pip, you've got some time... I see some red veins still in the one, so it definitely needs more time... if it is making yawning motions, then it still has yolk to absorb... doesn't look sticky or gooey so is good there... bill and nares are clear for breathing so no worries there... since its so open now though, I would carefull pull off the shell and only the outer membrane over the whole air cell and apply a thin coat of vaseline or coconut oil or plain antibiotic ointment on the inner membrane to keep it from shrinkwrapping... Then sit back and wait... when the veins recede and it starts struggling like crazy, then you can see if it needs assisting...

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Not a full 24 hours yet (will be this morning in a few) which is why Im not in a huge panic or anything, I just dont know when to help and if this chick is malpositioned as I read on another thread. This is my first time incubating and I have the added stress of these being the only khaki campbells in this part of the country, possibly the entire country (Congo, Africa).

Ducks van take a really long time to hatch. I think as long as you know it has air I would give it 24 to 48 hours.

 

[ThIsafricanhome]

First, take a nice, deep breath...

Ducks take FOREVER to hatch... it feels that way at least, lol... only 1 day from pip, you've got some time... I see some red veins still in the one, so it definitely needs more time... if it is making yawning motions, then it still has yolk to absorb... doesn't look sticky or gooey so is good there... bill and nares are clear for breathing so no worries there... since its so open now though, I would carefull pull off the shell and only the outer membrane over the whole air cell and apply a thin coat of vaseline or coconut oil or plain antibiotic ointment on the inner membrane to keep it from shrinkwrapping...

Then sit back and wait... when the veins recede and it starts struggling like crazy, then you can see if it needs assisting...

OMG thank you! I just thought the yawning was it being cute! I had no idea the was significance! Pull it off even if the air cell is huge and sadle shaped (just learned about that last night too yeesh!)?

 

[Ravynscroft]

OMG thank you! I just thought the yawning was it being cute! I had no idea the was significance! Pull it off even if the air cell is huge and sadle shaped (just learned about that last night too yeesh!)?

Yep, that yawning has significance...

Just open up around the big end, so that when it's ready it can push out on its own easily... be careful of the inner membrane thats against the duckling though, and watch that the shell pieces don't nick a vein...

So these are shipped eggs then? Opening that up more will give it best chance of it getting out easier, but not too soon that taking him out might be...

 

[ThIsafricanhome]

Yep, that yawning has significance...

Just open up around the big end, so that when it's ready it can push out on its own easily... be careful of the inner membrane thats against the duckling though, and watch that the shell pieces don't nick a vein...

So these are shipped eggs then? Opening that up more will give it best chance of it getting out easier, but not too soon that taking him out might be...

Ok I opened it some more and put antibiotic ointment all the way around. The air cell seems too large to do the whole thing but Ill keep an eye on it to see if I need to open the rest of the air cell. Thanks SO MUCH for the help! Seriously - the things they dont tell you in Hatching 101 seem to be pilling up!

Yes they are eggs from a hatchery that we then, legally, hand-carried back to Africa. They have literallt traveled across the world. Im going to use them to improve egg production here for malnourished families. All that I guess just has me stressed out so Ill keep rereading your first advice - to stop and breathe! Lol thanks.

And thanks for not being mean or harsh since I made a mistake. REALLY appreciate that!

 

[Ravynscroft]

Ok I opened it some more and put antibiotic ointment all the way around. The air cell seems too large to do the whole thing but Ill keep an eye on it to see if I need to open the rest of the air cell. Thanks SO MUCH for the help! Seriously - the things they dont tell you in Hatching 101 seem to be pilling up!

Yes they are eggs from a hatchery that we then, legally, hand-carried back to Africa. They have literallt traveled across the world. Im going to use them to improve egg production here for malnourished families. All that I guess just has me stressed out so Ill keep rereading your first advice - to stop and breathe! Lol thanks.

And thanks for not being mean or harsh since I made a mistake. REALLY appreciate that!

Oh, wow!! I completely understand why you are so nervous! But that is an immensely incredible thing you are doing! I wish you all the best in the success of your endeavor!!

No reason to be harsh when someone is already stressed out... you did not make a mistake, you were worried... if you had made a true mistake, that duckling would have bled out already...

I know the hatching 101 guide, and while it has a lot of good info, it is geared more towards ideal hatching situations and not 'special needs'... plus I don't think it has a warning about ducklings testing our patience, lol... I may have to seriously think about writing one for duck hatching, including shipped... hmmm...

I have hatched a lot of Call ducks, and many of those shipped... those are almost all assisted hatches... so if you need help and can't get a response here (like if everyone is asleep), please feel free to PM me... it won't bother me, I promise...

And if you get worried about the others that are pipped, you can open them like your first, just remember to be careful of that inner membrane and put ointment on it to keep it moist... you might need to reapply it, so check it regulary too...

You should also now be able to see the red veins in the inner membrane on the first, right? Watch those and when they recede you'll know it's close to being ready...