Hands on hatching and help

[Sunnyducks]

Hi @RavynFallen

Thank you for the advice - you can see I'm a first timer, can't you LOL. They are home grown eggs from my pair of ducks. The peeping isn't sounding particularly weak or stressed, so maybe just saying hi.....

 

[Ravynscroft]

Hi @RavynFallen


Thank you for the advice - you can see I'm a first timer, can't  you LOL. They are home grown eggs from my pair of ducks. The peeping isn't sounding particularly weak or stressed, so maybe just saying hi.....

You're fine, ducklings are definitely different than chicks when it comes to hatching, lol... no worries...

The peeping is very good... and unless it looks sticky/goo in the pip hole, just give it time... if the peeping gets weak, not tired, or sounds distressed, then it *might* need help... just hang in there... they love to take their sweet time getting out of that shell...

 

[Sunnyducks]

Hi @RavynFallen

Well, that didn't go well

The duckling hatched a short while ago, but only because I took the decision to help and I'll never know if I was right to do that but I think it probably was. It was 47 hours from the pip. The last five hours were a struggle for it. It didn't pip anymore after the second pip but it was pushing constantly against the shell. Eventually bits of the shell fell off where it was pushing so hard, and the membrane looked yellow, not sticky, but really tough compared to the other two. Anyway, after five hours of this pushing and getting absolutely nowhere despite the egg splitting, the wriggling was getting weaker, the peeps getting fainter, and he was still unable to get through the membrane. In the end, my daughter and I decided that because we thought it was going to die, there was nothing to be lost from intervening. I sterlised my tweezers and tore a small bit of the membrane. It was extremely tough, no blood. It started crying out quite piteously so I just decided it was right, and I very carefully pulled the front off the shell. The membrane was virtually intact so I carefully removed it, and discovered that the bit of duckling I could see was the lower back. It ended up lying limply so I finished all but the last bit. Its head was in the pointed end at that point. It didn't seem to be breathing really by then and a small amount of yolk and the cord were still attached. I have left it there, as there are no ducklings left in the incubator and I didn't know what to do.

I am so upset. It was even worse, if that's possible, because my 9yo grandson was watching it, so excited at seeing a duckling hatch. I presume it will pass away? It's still alive now, but that feels like a miracle. Should I have done anything? I feel awful incase I've caused it.

@WVduckchick
@RubyNala97

 

[WVduckchick]

Hi @RavynFallen


Well, that didn't go well

The duckling hatched a short while ago, but only because I took the decision to help and I'll never know if I was right to do that but I think it probably was. It was 47 hours from the pip. The last five hours were a struggle for it. It didn't pip anymore after the second pip but it was pushing  constantly against the shell. Eventually bits of the shell fell off where it was pushing so hard, and the membrane looked yellow, not sticky, but really tough compared to the other two. Anyway, after five hours of this pushing and getting absolutely nowhere despite the egg splitting, the wriggling was getting weaker, the peeps getting fainter, and he was still unable to get through the membrane. In the end, my daughter and I decided that because we thought it was going to die, there was nothing to be lost from intervening. I sterlised my tweezers and tore a small bit of the membrane. It was extremely tough, no blood. It started crying out quite piteously so I just decided it was right, and I very carefully pulled the front off the shell. The membrane was virtually intact so I carefully removed it, and discovered that the bit of duckling I could see was the lower back. It ended up lying limply so I finished all but the last bit. Its head was in the pointed end at that point. It didn't seem to be breathing really by then and a small amount of yolk and the cord were still attached. I have left it there, as there are no ducklings left in the incubator and I didn't know what to do.

I am so upset. It was even worse, if that's possible, because my 9yo grandson was watching it, so excited at seeing a duckling hatch. I presume it will pass away? It's still alive now, but that feels like a miracle. Should I have done anything? I feel awful incase I've caused it.

@WVduckchick

@RubyNala97

Hi! Most times we have to trust our gut to decide when its right to intervene. It may have just been a bit too soon, but the duckling could still be fine. How much yolk is still unabsorbed? He will likely just lay there, continuing the absorption, just make sure he can't drag it around and tear it open on anything, if he does try to move around. If its a large sac, you can place him in a bowl to immobilize him.

Can you post a pic?

 

[Sunnyducks]

@WVduckchick thank you - he's lying on his tummy, but he's still breathing

 

[Sunnyducks]

@WVduckchick

Turned him over and he's pulled it off, it wasn't a huge amount of sac, there is a bit of shell stuck to it and it's a bit gooey. He's mighty angry and very feisty

 

[Sunnyducks]

@WVduckchick It's not exactly gooey, wrong word. It's just that it's kind of raw where he's obviously pulled it off. I'm guessing it could have stuck to the liner which is a piece of non-slip shelf liner. He's moved to the other end of the brooder and is pretty lively at the moment.

 

[Sunnyducks]

@WVduckchick The incubator is pretty yukky now. There are two unhatched eggs still in there but plenty of detritus from these three hatchings. Should I put him in the brooder with his 2 siblings or just leave him? Thinking maybe the humidity might stop the umbilicus from drying off?

 

[WVduckchick]

@WVduckchick
It's not exactly gooey, wrong word. It's just that it's kind of raw where he's obviously pulled it off. I'm guessing it could have stuck to the liner which is a piece of non-slip shelf liner. He's moved to the other end of the brooder and is pretty lively at the moment.

Oh that looks fine! He will draw that in, in no time. You can dab it with a little antibiotic ointment (NO pain killer included), or a little Vaseline, would help unstick the little piece of shell, but that will heal just fine! You did good!

 

[WVduckchick]

@WVduckchick
The incubator is pretty yukky now. There are two unhatched eggs still in there but plenty of detritus from these three hatchings. Should I put him in the brooder with his 2 siblings or just leave him? Thinking maybe the humidity might stop the umbilicus from drying off?

The brooder would be fine, depending on what your bedding is. You don't want anything that will hurt the little spot. And also watch for picking by the other ducklings. Congrats!!