Hatching Pekin duck eggs - goo?

[Willowbirch]

I have two Pekin eggs in lockdown since yesterday. One egg rocks around a bit, but no pip yet. The other one pipped a bit yesterday and this afternoon the little bill starting poking thru the hole! Then some liquid dripped off the bill for a bit and now that liquid had settled a bit under the egg. Tiny bit. You have to look hard to see it. No activity since the drip. Are they OK?

 

[MGG]

I have two Pekin eggs in lockdown since yesterday. One egg rocks around a bit, but no pip yet. The other one pipped a bit yesterday and this afternoon the little bill starting poking thru the hole! Then some liquid dripped off the bill for a bit and now that liquid had settled a bit under the egg. Tiny bit. You have to look hard to see it. No activity since the drip. Are they OK?

What has your humidity been through incubation and what is it now? What day is it for them? Ducks take a long time so their activity level is totally normal. They can take up to 72 hours from external pip to hatch.

 

[MGG]

Also a picture of the fluid would help.

 

[Willowbirch]

Thanks for the reply! Today is day 27. I started lockdown yesterday morning, day 26. Stopped turning them, stopped cooling/misting daily. Raised humidity.

During incubation the humidity was at 55% and temp at 99.5. Never got it to be exactly steady, but I checked multiple times per day and would adjust temp and/or add water as needed. Raised to 70% yesterday morning for the lockdown. It is more in the neighborhood of 68% steadily. Can't really get it to stay at 70%. Will try to get a photo of the goo. Its a bitty bit and there is some condensation on the side of the incubator. BRB

 

[Willowbirch]

So it’s that little but between the base of the egg and the hatching grate. You can see the little bill pipped our on the right side. Ignore the line thru the egg and the droplets - those are on the outside of the incubator. Other than the bill the egg is smooth and intact. Some areas of the egg’s surface are darker than others. Think it’s ok?

 

[MGG]

View attachment 2114571
So it’s that little but between the base of the egg and the hatching grate. You can see the little bill pipped our on the right side. Ignore the line thru the egg and the droplets - those are on the outside of the incubator. Other than the bill the egg is smooth and intact. Some areas of the egg’s surface are darker than others. Think it’s ok?

I think it should be. Your temp and humidity sound good. I would try to keep the humidity around 65%, just in case it's too wet for the duckling. Does the shell look like it has some bruising?

 

[Willowbirch]

I’m not sure what bruising looks like. This is my first hatch. Some areas of the egg look a little darker than other areas. The darker areas seem to have grown since yesterday morning.

 

[MGG]

I’m not sure what bruising looks like. This is my first hatch. Some areas of the egg look a little darker than other areas. The darker areas seem to have grown since yesterday morning.

Just like a regular bruise but on the egg. First hatches (all hatches actually, lol) are so scary and nerve wracking. I think you should take it out and dab the liquid with a bit of toilet paper. Just to dry the bill off. You don't want him aspirating. It won't hurt it as long as you take him out quickly and then dry him off. Then put him back in.

 

[Willowbirch]

His bill isn’t wet - it was a little wet but the drops fell off and that is what “pooled” under the egg. His bill is dry now. Do you think I should still open it? Nerve tacking is an understatement. Omg I’m a mess. Thanks for your advice!!! I super appreciate it.

 

[MGG]

His bill isn’t wet - it was a little wet but the drops fell off and that is what “pooled” under the egg. His bill is dry now. Do you think I should still open it? Nerve tacking is an understatement. Omg I’m a mess. Thanks for your advice!!! I super appreciate it.

It should be fine if he's dry. We're here for you!