Hatching Help

[callnfowl]

I have 8 duck eggs incubating naturally under one of my broody hens. Thursday would be day 28 for them, but five of them started pipping exernally yesterday, day 24 and two of them broke through making 1/4" holes last night. Here is the problem. It has been unusually hot here -- 113-115 for the past three days -- and dry. The two that broke through yesterday made almost no progress over a 12 hour period and the membrane around the hole was very dry and kind of "shrink wrapped around them." This morning I misted all of the eggs with special attention to the two who had pecked through and chipped away just a small amount of the shell around their holes (only the portion the membrane had already dried and pulled away from). The membranes are now looser around the ducklings and they seem to be able to make some forward progress on their own (also seemed to appreciate a little water dropplets on thier beaks.

I am worried both about the membranes being to dry for the hatching and about the temperature just being too hot for the amount of time from pip to full hatch for the duckling to go without water. I am planning to mist regularly, but have read in places not to mist during hatching.... Any advice?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 8 duck eggs incubating naturally under one of my broody hens. Thursday would be day 28 for them, but five of them started pipping exernally yesterday, day 24 and two of them broke through making 1/4" holes last night. Here is the problem. It has been unusually hot here -- 113-115 for the past three days -- and dry. The two that broke through yesterday made almost no progress over a 12 hour period and the membrane around the hole was very dry and kind of "shrink wrapped around them." This morning I misted all of the eggs with special attention to the two who had pecked through and chipped away just a small amount of the shell around their holes (only the portion the membrane had already dried and pulled away from). The membranes are now looser around the ducklings and they seem to be able to make some forward progress on their own (also seemed to appreciate a little water dropplets on thier beaks.

I am worried both about the membranes being to dry for the hatching and about the temperature just being too hot for the amount of time from pip to full hatch for the duckling to go without water. I am planning to mist regularly, but have read in places not to mist during hatching.... Any advice?

You may have to help with temps that high and so dry. Here is a link to helping when needed. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching I have only had to help once and this duckling was under a mama duck but she too was shrink wrapped it took me from Friday to Monday morn to get her to the place where she could hatch the rest of the way by herself. very slow going. Mainly be concerned with blood vessels and yolk sac. I did spray a fine warm mist on my duckling once her bill was out and she would open her mouth and drink, it was so precious. Good luck and keep us updated on progress.

 

[callnfowl]

Thanks for the information. 6 of the 8 eggs started to zip considerable and all 6 duckling had a lot of trouble finishing the job. My kids and I spent the day keeping the membranes moist and helping just a little only when it was clear after a couple of hours of struggling that the ducklings were not makeing any progress. Interestingly enough, my hen who is brooding them also chipped in a couple of times pecking at a shell herself. All 6 made it out -- no problem with blood vessles and the egg sacks were fully absorbed. One duckling died about 2 hours after hatch and I have two that are still pretty weak - they hobble along then kind of collapse to sleep for a bit then try again. Right now 5 little ducklings are snuggled with mama hen and I am crossing my fingers that they will make it through the night.

The two remaining eggs show no progress. I candled them this evening and I can see the full shape of duckling inside (quite different than last night when I could mostly just see dark below the air sack) but no movment. I am guessing both died in the shell after breaking through to the airsack, but since it is only day 25 for the eggs I left them under the hen. She's been good about kicking out bad eggs with her chicks so maybe she'll do the same with ducks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for the information. 6 of the 8 eggs started to zip considerable and all 6 duckling had a lot of trouble finishing the job. My kids and I spent the day keeping the membranes moist and helping just a little only when it was clear after a couple of hours of struggling that the ducklings were not makeing any progress. Interestingly enough, my hen who is brooding them also chipped in a couple of times pecking at a shell herself. All 6 made it out -- no problem with blood vessles and the egg sacks were fully absorbed. One duckling died about 2 hours after hatch and I have two that are still pretty weak - they hobble along then kind of collapse to sleep for a bit then try again. Right now 5 little ducklings are snuggled with mama hen and I am crossing my fingers that they will make it through the night.

The two remaining eggs show no progress. I candled them this evening and I can see the full shape of duckling inside (quite different than last night when I could mostly just see dark below the air sack) but no movment. I am guessing both died in the shell after breaking through to the airsack, but since it is only day 25 for the eggs I left them under the hen. She's been good about kicking out bad eggs with her chicks so maybe she'll do the same with ducks.

That's great news.. good job to you and the kids. get some poultry vitamins ..save a chick or Nutri drench and add to their water it will give them a boost. Hope to see pics soon, and sorry about the ones you lost but to hatch in conditions you described sounds like they did extremely well.

 

[callnfowl]

All 5 ducklings made it through the night and are stronger and healthier today. The little yellow one is still quite awkward and has some trouble walking but she is eager and much stronger than she was last night. I will get the vitamins as soon as our feed store opens. Thankfully it rained last night so it is a little cooler and more humid today. Still no movement in the last two eggs, but my hen is still sitting so I'll keep them with her until she kicks them out just in case.

Here is a picture of the little guys with their mother hen. Quite an eclectic bunch. When our hen went broody again my kids convinced me to do recon at a near-by park. By noon there is not a duck egg left unsmashed and they wanted to save some from iminent distruction. So they went out at 6 for two morning so see where the ducks were laying. On the third morning they collected eggs, only eggs that were not there the day before to be certain not to disurb an established nest. Thus a mixed group of duckings in the middle of an Arizona summer. Twice saved I guess.



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[Miss Lydia]

All 5 ducklings made it through the night and are stronger and healthier today. The little yellow one is still quite awkward and has some trouble walking but she is eager and much stronger than she was last night. I will get the vitamins as soon as our feed store opens. Thankfully it rained last night so it is a little cooler and more humid today. Still no movement in the last two eggs, but my hen is still sitting so I'll keep them with her until she kicks them out just in case.

Here is a picture of the little guys with their mother hen. Quite an eclectic bunch. When our hen went broody again my kids convinced me to do recon at a near-by park. By noon there is not a duck egg left unsmashed and they wanted to save some from iminent distruction. So they went out at 6 for two morning so see where the ducks were laying. On the third morning they collected eggs, only eggs that were not there the day before to be certain not to disurb an established nest. Thus a mixed group of duckings in the middle of an Arizona summer. Twice saved I guess.



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what a sweet bunch of ducklings and mama hen looks very proud too. I hope ya'll don't intend to let them go back to where you found the eggs at? Congrats to you all for saving them.

looks like you got a crested one in the bunch too.

 

[callnfowl]

Oh no, they will never be park ducks, they are staying with us. We've had chickens for years and have been talking about adding ducks, so they will be our starter flock. Thanks for your help. I'll post another pic a week or so in. Two crested I think - the yellow one and the little guy in the lower corner. Fun stuff and my kids (3 and 5) are as proud as my hen!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh no, they will never be park ducks, they are staying with us. We've had chickens for years and have been talking about adding ducks, so they will be our starter flock. Thanks for your help. I'll post another pic a week or so in. Two crested I think - the yellow one and the little guy in the lower corner. Fun stuff and my kids (3 and 5) are as proud as my hen!

I bet they are such an experience for them, glad to hear they will be part of the family from now on. look forward to seeing pics as they grow, I see the other lil crested one now so cute.. Remember 2 crested should not mate and produce it's a lethal gene.

 

[callnfowl]

The vitamins were miraculous! In all my time raising hens I've never used them, but I think I'll start, expecially in these hot months. The ducklings are all strong and happy -- even went for a splash in the water this afternoon (much to the hen's dismay!). Thanks for the tip on the crested ducks.



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[Miss Lydia]

The vitamins were miraculous! In all my time raising hens I've never used them, but I think I'll start, expecially in these hot months. The ducklings are all strong and happy -- even went for a splash in the water this afternoon (much to the hen's dismay!). Thanks for the tip on the crested ducks.



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What a sweet pic.

glad you found the vits to work, I like to use them when molting is going on too.