Hands on hatching and help

[WVduckchick]

Here's a picture. The pip is pretty close to the bottom of the egg.
View attachment 1543037

Looks bruised too. Tough call. I’d keep a close eye on it, especially watching for movement and listening for peeping. And like the other one, it wouldn’t hurt to split the membrane so you can see in.
How’s the other one coming along?

 

[Georgina Fritznoodle]

Looks bruised too. Tough call. I’d keep a close eye on it, especially watching for movement and listening for peeping. And like the other one, it wouldn’t hurt to split the membrane so you can see in.
How’s the other one coming along?

Okay, I split the membrane and I can see him opening and closing his bill and he has peeped a few times. I'll keep an eye on him, but I think he's doing okay at the moment. The other duckling hasn't made much progress. He has knocked off a bit more shell. I candled and it does seem like there are less veins than last night, but he still has a ways to go.

 

[WVduckchick]

Okay, I split the membrane and I can see him opening and closing his bill and he has peeped a few times. I'll keep an eye on him, but I think he's doing okay at the moment. The other duckling hasn't made much progress. He has knocked off a bit more shell. I candled and it does seem like there are less veins than last night, but he still has a ways to go.

Great! Keep us posted.

 

[Georgina Fritznoodle]

So, it's been roughly 58 hours since I noticed the pip in the first egg. I know that some of that time had to be treated like an internal pip because the duckling missed the air cell, but how long would you give it before thinking about assisting? I have seen movement so I know it's alive, but there hasn't been much progress. If you just think it needs more time, I'll give it more time.

 

[WVduckchick]

So, it's been roughly 58 hours since I noticed the pip in the first egg. I know that some of that time had to be treated like an internal pip because the duckling missed the air cell, but how long would you give it before thinking about assisting? I have seen movement so I know it's alive, but there hasn't been much progress. If you just think it needs more time, I'll give it more time.

Ugh. How big is the hole? Can you see chewing/yawning motions?

 

[Georgina Fritznoodle]

Ugh. How big is the hole? Can you see chewing/yawning motions?

The hole is not very big. I was trying to look for chewing or yawning motions, but I can only see the top of his bill so it's making it difficult to see what he's doing.

 

[WVduckchick]

View attachment 1544426
The hole is not very big. I was trying to look for chewing or yawning motions, but I can only see the top of his bill so it's making it difficult to see what he's doing.

If it were mine, I'd peel the shell from over the air cell end. That membrane is looking pretty brown and dry. Leave the inner membrane intact, moisten it with some Vaseline or coconut oil and check for active blood vessels before going any further.

 

[Georgina Fritznoodle]

Okay, I removed the shell and outer membrane from the aircell end. I don't see any veins. Should I keep going?

 

[WVduckchick]

Okay, I removed the shell and outer membrane from the aircell end. I don't see any veins. Should I keep going?
View attachment 1544454

Looks great! You can stretch the lower part of the membrane down if you want, kinda flop it back like a trash bag in a trash can. Or you can wait till he starts squirming excessively. He may be able to make it on his own from there.
Likely if you peel the membrane back, his head/neck will pop out in your hand. Shine your flashlight down the belly toward the pointy end of the egg and look for yolk. If the belly looks good, no yolk sac, he should push out whenever he is ready!

 

[Georgina Fritznoodle]

I pulled back the inner membrane like you said and then put him back in the incubator. A minute later he was completely out of the egg. No yolk left to absorb.