Hatching Problems, Requesting Advice ASAP

[MyNameIsQ]

Hello, I've been incubating duck eggs over the past month. They entered lockdown on Friday and I had one duckling pip on Sunday and hatch yesterday (day 28). As I didn't want to disturb the humidity and risk shrink-wrapping their siblings I decided to leave them in there. Unfortunately they are quite the mischief maker and have knocked the other eggs around a lot during their time in there. I believe this has disrupted the hatching of the other eggs. One popped yesterday and has made little progress since (it's been over 24h) and I believe another has pipped although it I'd difficult to tell. Since the mischievous duck has been in there over 24h I am now considering various actions but looking for advice, so should I:

1) Leave one duckling I currently have in there overnight, approximately another 12 hours, waiting to see if the other eggs progress? This runs a slight risk as at that point it will be approaching 48 hours since the one I have got hatched, note they do not have any water to drink from in there, but they do currently seem alert and well.

2) Should I try and make a quick extraction of the one duckling I've got, using warm damp flannels to cover over the other eggs, and topping up the humidity water whilst I take mischief out?

3) Do option 2, and provide some assistance to the one pipped egg that is taking unusually long. I understand this is usually a bad idea, but it has been 24 hours and I am concerned that they may be disoriented.

I hope for swift replies, thank you,
- Q

 

[casportpony]

Should I try and make a quick extraction of the one duckling I've got, using warm damp flannels to cover over the other eggs, and topping up the humidity water whilst I take mischief out?

Your other eggs will not shrink-wrap if you open the incubator to remove the duckling. If that's what you want to do, just open it and remove the duckling, don't worry about the humidity.

 

[MyNameIsQ]

Wow okay, so duck #2 must've heard that I posted this because no joke in the past 30 minutes since I made the original post they've begun to make a lot more progress on breaking through the shell . After they're more or less out I'll move both the ducklings out and see if I have any luck with the others.

Also I was so concerned about shrink wrapping because I'm extremely anxious around lockdown, until we had the incubator we have now we lost a lot of ducks within the last few days and I've also recently read that pipped eggs are the most at risk from shrink wrapping.

I know it was short, but thanks for the advice. if people have anything to add I'll still be checking here for at least another day so thank you for any advice you may give.

The ducks are black east indies by the way which I find adorable, I'll post pictures once they're both out.

 

[MyNameIsQ]

Okay, we took ducks #1 & #2 out of the incubator, I admittedly did help duck #2 a little but but I was pretty certain they were ready and all evidence suggests I was correct (no blood vessels showing, nothing left in shell that duck #2 would've otherwise absorbed). I only did this because they were already breaking through and I was a little concerned about them getting out due to them being kicked around a lot. I also helped them in the most natural way I could.

Anyway, both ducks are doing well now, duck #2 is drying off, duck #1 doesn't like it when I leave the room but that's rather to be expected.

I'll post pictures tomorrow, I'll also let you know if any of the other eggs we have pip.

 

[MyNameIsQ]

Okay, admittedly did forget to post pictures yesterday but there weren't any good ones at the time, these ones were definitely worth the wait, their first time exploring the outdoors.