Hatching troubles, Help

[6sablehens]

If you candle the egg can you see the ducklings beak tapping at the shell? You should also be able to hear it tapping on the shell and chirping if you hold the egg to your ear. This means it’s in the process of external pipping, however things still go wrong at this stage. If humidity is too low it can cause shrink wrapping of the membrane and the duckling can get stuck. This has happened to us before and we’ve had to assist the duckling in hatching.

 

[JWW]

I just re-read your first post that it is duck eggs and they take longer than chicken eggs. They should be starting to hatch. I'll ask my daughter, she has more experience with ducks.

If you candle the egg can you see the ducklings beak tapping at the shell? You should also be able to hear it tapping on the shell and chirping if you hold the egg to your ear. This means it’s in the process of external pipping, however things still go wrong at this stage. If humidity is too low it can cause shrink wrapping of the membrane and the duckling can get stuck. This has happened to us before and we’ve had to assist the duckling in hatching.

Part of the outer shell has been broken and fallen off. I just check on the egg and I see the duck trying to break the membrane. How long do I wait to help with a hole for breathing? I noticed the break about 15 hours ago.

 

[6sablehens]

That’s strange how the outer shell is broken, and the membrane isn’t. Does the membrane look shrivelled and dry?

 

[JWW]

That’s strange how the outer shell is broken, and the membrane isn’t. Does the membrane look shrivelled and dry?

It is white, whereas the other egg in the incubator and my other two ducks that have already hatched, all have had yellowish looking membrane. There are other parts of the shell that have cracked but not totally fallen off yet.

 

[6sablehens]

If it was shrink wrapped, and the duckling has been trying to make the enternal pip for a while, I would very carefully make a tiny hole in the membrane. If you decide to do this, put a very small amount of water on the membrane using your finger to see if there are any blood vessels. If there are, then I wouldn’t recommend puncturing the membrane.

 

[6sablehens]

how long ago did the others hatch?

 

[JWW]

If it was shrink wrapped, and the duckling has been trying to make the enternal pip for a while, I would very carefully make a tiny hole in the membrane. If you decide to do this, put a very small amount of water on the membrane using your finger to see if there are any blood vessels. If there are, then I wouldn’t recommend puncturing the membrane.

Ok, if all is well, how big do I make the hole? I have a larger safety pin, is that big enough?

 

[JWW]

how long ago did the others hatch?

One on Sunday and one on Monday. They were put in the incubator earlier than these two.

 

[6sablehens]

It can be risky assisting a duckling. Before you do anything put a tiny bit of water on the membrane and see if there’s any blood vessels. If there is the ducklings not ready to hatch.

 

[6sablehens]

If you were to try and help it hatch I would just make a very small hole with a pin just so it can breathe and then wait and see how it goes before doing anything else.