Help! Duck Egg Hatching First Timer

[PeggyTheEggy]

It's not sticky that's the problem. It's that when the membrane dries out it shrinks. Imagine yourself in a rawhide poncho. If it's thin enough you can tear right through it. But if it dries out a straight jacket might be easier to escape from no matter how thin it is.

If she's still making chewing motions she's still absorbing yolk, but she should be done this evening. She should finish hatching before you go to bed.

Thank you! It is 9pm where I am now, you think she will hatch soon? If she does not make progress in a few hours is there anything more I should do?

 

[Sierra G]

Thank you! It is 9pm where I am now, you think she will hatch soon? If she does not make progress in a few hours is there anything more I should do?

Because she's still chewing she's not ready to hatch yet, but if she internally pipped yesterday she should be very close. If she's not showing any signs of distress I'd leave her in the incubator and let her hatch on her own. But you're the one best positioned to decide if she's having trouble.

 

[PeggyTheEggy]

Because she's still chewing she's not ready to hatch yet, but if she internally pipped yesterday she should be very close. If she's not showing any signs of distress I'd leave her in the incubator and let her hatch on her own. But you're the one best positioned to decide if she's having trouble.

Sounds good. It has been 48 hours since we noticed the internal pip now. What are some signs of distress I should keep an eye out for?

 

[Sierra G]

Sounds good. It has been 48 hours since we noticed the internal pip now. What are some signs of distress I should keep an eye out for?

Loud peeping or struggling to get out?

 

[PeggyTheEggy]

Loud peeping or struggling to get out?

It appears her foot is positioned above her head, is this a position she will be able to push out of?

 

[Sierra G]

Maybe, but if it were me I'd clear enough shell away that she has room to get her head around her foot. Or if she's done absorbing the yolk sac I'd probably just help her hatch.

 

[PeggyTheEggy]

Maybe, but if it were me I'd clear enough shell away that she has room to get her head around her foot. Or if she's done absorbing the yolk sac I'd probably just help her hatch.

 

[Sierra G]

Arev her chewing motions fairly consistent or just intermittent? The membrane looks brown in your picture, but I don't see much detail trying to zoom in so I'm not sure. Give me a brief description of what your seeing and what the current humidity is please.

 

[PeggyTheEggy]

Arev her chewing motions fairly consistent or just intermittent? The membrane looks brown in your picture, but I don't see much detail trying to zoom in so I'm not sure. Give me a brief description of what your seeing and what the current humidity is please.

Chewing seems to be fine now. Just removed more shell, was out for a minute while we tried to help her. Humidity is back at 75 now. She was peeping a lot while we had her out but quiet now. Don’t want to take her all the way out incase she isn’t ready but just trying to help her get her foot out from under her head. Moistened the membrane with some coconut oil, but it seems like it is sticking to her a bit. I think this may be holding her head in. Veins seem pretty dry, just light pinkish but don’t want to cause any bleeding.

 

[PeggyTheEggy]

Chewing seems to be fine now. Just removed more shell, was out for a minute while we tried to help her. Humidity is back at 75 now. She was peeping a lot while we had her out but quiet now. Don’t want to take her all the way out incase she isn’t ready but just trying to help her get her foot out from under her head. Moistened the membrane with some coconut oil, but it seems like it is sticking to her a bit. I think this may be holding her head in. Veins seem pretty dry, just light pinkish but don’t want to cause any bleeding.

Sorry I meant chewing seems to be done now.