Hands on hatching and help

[Chels1234]

I score some Shell at the bruise and saw a tiny slit in the inner membrane and clear breathing. Once I got the slit uncovered I almost dropped it he pushed so hard. I cleared the area, dabbed some Vaseline and water and put back in the incubator. Hoping for some progress over night!

 

[Georgina Fritznoodle]

A couple weeks ago, while I was outside taking care of my ducks, I stumbled upon a nest of duck eggs behind a bush. I was going to throw them away, but I decided to candle them first just to make sure there weren't any developing. To my surprise, 3 of the 13 eggs showed development and all appeared to be on different days. I decided to stick them into my incubator to give them a chance, but wasn't expecting much because my incubator sucks and doesn't even reach 99 degrees. The egg that was furthest along in development had a crack in it and died after two days in the incubator. That left me with two eggs. I have been turning the eggs 3 times a day and candling every once in a while to make sure they were still alive. Tonight I went to turn the eggs and noticed there was a pip in one of the eggs. I haven't been keeping track of how long they have been in the incubator (stupid, I know) and was shocked to see the pip because it doesn't feel like they have been in the incubator long enough to be hatching yet. The pip in the shell is not in the right place. It's opposite the aircell. Every once in while I can see something pushing on the membrane at the pip. I can also see something moving in the air cell but I'm not sure what it is. I also still see veins when I candle. This egg has me really confused and I don't know if I should wait or help it out somehow. Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some pictures of the pip.

There is something moving in the aircell, but I don't know what.

There are still veins...

 

[WVduckchick]

A couple weeks ago, while I was outside taking care of my ducks, I stumbled upon a nest of duck eggs behind a bush. I was going to throw them away, but I decided to candle them first just to make sure there weren't any developing. To my surprise, 3 of the 13 eggs showed development and all appeared to be on different days. I decided to stick them into my incubator to give them a chance, but wasn't expecting much because my incubator sucks and doesn't even reach 99 degrees. The egg that was furthest along in development had a crack in it and died after two days in the incubator. That left me with two eggs. I have been turning the eggs 3 times a day and candling every once in a while to make sure they were still alive. Tonight I went to turn the eggs and noticed there was a pip in one of the eggs. I haven't been keeping track of how long they have been in the incubator (stupid, I know) and was shocked to see the pip because it doesn't feel like they have been in the incubator long enough to be hatching yet. The pip in the shell is not in the right place. It's opposite the aircell. Every once in while I can see something pushing on the membrane at the pip. I can also see something moving in the air cell but I'm not sure what it is. I also still see veins when I candle. This egg has me really confused and I don't know if I should wait or help it out somehow. Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some pictures of the pip.
View attachment 1542516
View attachment 1542517
There is something moving in the aircell, but I don't know what.
View attachment 1542520
There are still veins...
View attachment 1542521

I wouldn’t help it yet. It should be able to hatch just fine by itself from there. And now it may also take longer, having missed the air cell, it will still need the time they normally spend in the air cell. So you could be looking at 2 more days.
Personally, I would just make sure there’s a good “flap” in that membrane. Watch and see if it opens good when the duckling breathes or pushes on it.

Good luck! Keep us posted please!

 

[Georgina Fritznoodle]

I wouldn’t help it yet. It should be able to hatch just fine by itself from there. And now it may also take longer, having missed the air cell, it will still need the time they normally spend in the air cell. So you could be looking at 2 more days.
Personally, I would just make sure there’s a good “flap” in that membrane. Watch and see if it opens good when the duckling breathes or pushes on it.

Good luck! Keep us posted please!

Okay, thanks! It doesn't look to me like the duckling actually broke through the membrane, just the shell. Do I need to do something about that?

 

[WVduckchick]

Okay, thanks! It doesn't look to me like the duckling actually broke through the membrane, just the shell. Do I need to do something about that?

With that much shell broken, it very likely broke the membrane too. You probably just can’t see it. Watch closely for it to flip open. It may be quick and subtle.
But you could make sure the membrane is split, even partially remove some of what’s visible there where the shell piece was. I use a straight pin (my incubators are in my sewing room lol) or try tweezers, etc. Just be careful and watch for blood. Don’t want to rip any blood vessels.

 

[WVduckchick]

Okay, thanks! It doesn't look to me like the duckling actually broke through the membrane, just the shell. Do I need to do something about that?

Oh, one more thing...it’s common for ducklings to make more than one pip before they start zipping. Sometimes they will knock around 2, 3, 4 times before they decide to come on out. So don’t be alarmed by another pip close to the first one.

 

[Georgina Fritznoodle]

With that much shell broken, it very likely broke the membrane too. You probably just can’t see it. Watch closely for it to flip open. It may be quick and subtle.
But you could make sure the membrane is split, even partially remove some of what’s visible there where the shell piece was. I use a straight pin (my incubators are in my sewing room lol) or try tweezers, etc. Just be careful and watch for blood. Don’t want to rip any blood vessels.

Oh, one more thing...it’s common for ducklings to make more than one pip before they start zipping. Sometimes they will knock around 2, 3, 4 times before they decide to come on out. So don’t be alarmed by another pip close to the first one.

Thank you for all your help! I feel much better knowing that it's probably getting enough air and should be able to get out on its own when it's ready.

 

[Georgina Fritznoodle]

I just got home from work and noticed that the second egg had a pip. But, while the other egg has a pip on the fat end of the egg opposite the aircell, this one has a pip on the pointy end of the egg. Should this duckling be able to get out on its own as well?

 

[WVduckchick]

I just got home from work and noticed that the second egg had a pip. But, while the other egg has a pip on the fat end of the egg opposite the aircell, this one has a pip on the pointy end of the egg. Should this duckling be able to get out on its own as well?

Many times they can, but they seem to do better the further away from the point that they are. Can you post a pic? Definitely will be one to keep an eye on.

 

[Georgina Fritznoodle]

Many times they can, but they seem to do better the further away from the point that they are. Can you post a pic? Definitely will be one to keep an eye on.

Here's a picture. The pip is pretty close to the bottom of the egg.