Hatching duck eggs

[Jsto]

I work with a little boy who's class is attempting to hatch ducklings. Over the weekend, we had a mini heatwave and the bator went bonkers and reached pretty high temperatures. They had one rotten egg burst that day, yet yesterday afternoon, a single duckling hatched. I had mentioned earlier in the week that I had read that the membrane around chicks could dry up, trapping them inside, but you could pick a little hole in the top and wet it down to help the babe along. Can this also be done with ducklings? If so, what is the actual procedure?

Today is the actual due date and they're getting antsy. I told them to leave the eggs be for now because they don't always hatch on the due date, but that I would come bearing information tomorrow. So, guys and gals, give me some info so I can be the classroom hero!!

I have no experience with ducklings whatsoever (aside from cooing and awwwing over them). The duckling has not yet completely fluffed out. It looks weak and.....gooby. Is this normal and they just take longer than chicks? Or is something wrong? The poor thing is all by itself so has become really attached to the kids. If anyone leaves it alone, it puts up quite a fit. It looks so lonely and sad, I just want to snatch it and bring it home. It's huddling in the corner. They have a heat lamp on it, but no thermometer so I was worried it was cold. What's the ideal temp for it? I'm thinking of bringing in my extra thermo for it

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[tiffanyh]

Thats risky--they can hatch late, ecspecially if temps are low (at least chicks can, I assume ducks are the same). If you open the egg you risk other things-doing it in the wrong spot, causing infection. what makes you think the membranes are dry and need wetting??

If they are anything like chicks, the temp should be 95 to start and they should be able to move away from the heat source. I hope someone else chimes in.

 

[Jsto]

Thanks for the reply.

I had only mentioned that sometimes that could happen when the bator went nuts and the temp rose and the humidity dropped. I only mentioned it to them as a very last resort. I'm not even sure the others are alive as I stupidly forgot to ask when they last candled. I was just looking for some information to provide them because they seem to be clueless. It's unfortunate that they would take on this huge project, thinking it would be fun, but not really knowing much about it, it seems. Ah well.

Anyone else have any other information?