- Apr 1, 2013
- 37
- 2
- 34
Hello!
I'm a new member here and would like to thank you all, despite not having an account I've still learnt a lot from this site, particularly when raising some orpington chicks earlier in the year. Now I have a bit of a dilemma with some Muscovy ducklings (it would appear they're not the luckiest of ducks!) who have had a very difficult few days and now appear to be unable to move around to kick out of their eggs due to humidity issues.
Long story short, their mother incubated them very well up until 3 days ago, when one started to hatch and she killed it (suspected she was just trying to get the eggshell off, and as a first time mother she was far too rough). The whole flock then decided to worry and pick at the remaining eggs so we took them away for fear of losing them all.
I'd like to point out that we don't have an incubator, and have resorted to keeping these guys in a shoebox with a heat-mat and damp paper towels. I wasn't expecting them to survive but somehow the temperature has been very steady around 35C and 3 days later, they are still with us!
The problem is, they've been trying to crack the eggs for at least 3 days now and only managed to crack the shells slightly 1 ago. Since that, there has been no progress in the slightest, and they don't cheep so much. This worries me, and I think they might be exhausted. So, after much googling around, I started to remove a little of the shell, taking care not to hit any veins etc. It went well, and I managed to zip almost all around the egg then left it for a while. Again, there has been no progress at all, although they are still breathing and they cheep faintly when I touch their beaks with the tweezers. When removing the shell, I'm having difficulty working out what exactly the membrane is. There is a white, papery/rubbery layer immediately under the shell, and then a more flexible, skin like layer which does have some veins in (though they have been fading rapidly) which is actually wrapped around the ducklings themselves. I think humidity is a definite issue here, I'm unable to remove the shell without removing the papery membrane, but I don't want to pick to much at the other membrane as there are still a few veiny bits.
Now I've read that the duckling has to be able to move around to kick open the shell, but due to the skin-like membrane they don't seem to be able to move at all - is this why they can't get out? Should I slowly peel it back, or wait until all the veins have been absorbed? I know these aren't ideal conditions and I'll be surprised if they do survive but it's worth trying!
Oh, by the way there are 4 eggs, I wasn't sure what best to do so I've interfered with 2 and left the other 2 completely alone, so in case I make stupid beginner mistakes the 'nature's way' 2 still have a chance. They haven't made any progress at all, and don't cheep anymore but I can hear a faint scratching in one of them. Should I interfere with this one too? Or leave it be?
Help please!
Eika
I'm a new member here and would like to thank you all, despite not having an account I've still learnt a lot from this site, particularly when raising some orpington chicks earlier in the year. Now I have a bit of a dilemma with some Muscovy ducklings (it would appear they're not the luckiest of ducks!) who have had a very difficult few days and now appear to be unable to move around to kick out of their eggs due to humidity issues.
Long story short, their mother incubated them very well up until 3 days ago, when one started to hatch and she killed it (suspected she was just trying to get the eggshell off, and as a first time mother she was far too rough). The whole flock then decided to worry and pick at the remaining eggs so we took them away for fear of losing them all.
I'd like to point out that we don't have an incubator, and have resorted to keeping these guys in a shoebox with a heat-mat and damp paper towels. I wasn't expecting them to survive but somehow the temperature has been very steady around 35C and 3 days later, they are still with us!
The problem is, they've been trying to crack the eggs for at least 3 days now and only managed to crack the shells slightly 1 ago. Since that, there has been no progress in the slightest, and they don't cheep so much. This worries me, and I think they might be exhausted. So, after much googling around, I started to remove a little of the shell, taking care not to hit any veins etc. It went well, and I managed to zip almost all around the egg then left it for a while. Again, there has been no progress at all, although they are still breathing and they cheep faintly when I touch their beaks with the tweezers. When removing the shell, I'm having difficulty working out what exactly the membrane is. There is a white, papery/rubbery layer immediately under the shell, and then a more flexible, skin like layer which does have some veins in (though they have been fading rapidly) which is actually wrapped around the ducklings themselves. I think humidity is a definite issue here, I'm unable to remove the shell without removing the papery membrane, but I don't want to pick to much at the other membrane as there are still a few veiny bits.
Now I've read that the duckling has to be able to move around to kick open the shell, but due to the skin-like membrane they don't seem to be able to move at all - is this why they can't get out? Should I slowly peel it back, or wait until all the veins have been absorbed? I know these aren't ideal conditions and I'll be surprised if they do survive but it's worth trying!
Oh, by the way there are 4 eggs, I wasn't sure what best to do so I've interfered with 2 and left the other 2 completely alone, so in case I make stupid beginner mistakes the 'nature's way' 2 still have a chance. They haven't made any progress at all, and don't cheep anymore but I can hear a faint scratching in one of them. Should I interfere with this one too? Or leave it be?
Help please!
Eika
As for the second one, I've taken away enough of the shell that it's beak is poking out and it can breathe, but the membrane on that one has remained quite veiny (unlike the first, who's membrane seemed to dry out a bit) so I've left it for now - as long as it is warm and breathing we'll see if it can get out by itself.
