Have two abandoned mallard eggs in my incubator one pipped and zipped 11 hours after pipping on the 29th day. On the 30th day , 2nd egg pipped no zipp

[Caryn Wheeler]

Everyone in NORCO, CA (farming town) insists that i do not assist this duckling- nor open the incubator. Humidity is at 77% temp is 37.8 celcius same as first duckling that hatched. How long do i wait for him to pop before i attempt to assist :-( Im so sad.

 

[sourland]

How long ago did the second one pip?

 

[Caryn Wheeler]

How long ago did the second one pip?

Monday afternoon at 5:30pm june 6th on the 29th day

 

[Caryn Wheeler]

Monday afternoon at 5:30pm june 6th on the 29th day it is now 5:00 pm on june 8th so nearly two days ago

 

[Caryn Wheeler]

Monday june 6th at 5:30 pm on its 29th day today is june 8th at 5:00 pm so nearly 24 hrs ago

 

[rjmyooper]

I used to live in Corona. Nice to meet you. I believe in helping after an attempted zip by the chick falls short. They exhausted themselves trying, now it's our turn to help them.

 

[Caryn Wheeler]

I used to live in Corona. Nice to meet you. I believe in helping after an attempted zip by the chick falls short. They exhausted themselves trying, now it's our turn to help them.

So then how do i help it ?

 

[Caryn Wheeler]

How and what do I do to help it? Im scared of taking it out everyone says removing it will immediately shrink wrap it . Im scared

 

[rjmyooper]

So then how do i help it ?

I wouldn't "help" (assist with a zip) until the chick is partially out and it stopped. Seriously, they are much more capable than most people give them credit for. When I spoke before I thought we were talking about an assist. Do a search for this using the search button at the top. It's been a hot topic around here.
Always let the chick struggle a little before assisting.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC! Hang in there. I personally assist when needed. I've done it 3x, all female chicks from the same hen. (Her eggs are rounder than normal) The chicks I've helped have been good, strong ones. I can't advise on mallards, but with chicks I wait until 48 hours or more after they have pipped and not made enough progress.