Help! Duckling shell cracked open, but no pip!

[dearheartshomestead]

If you see any blood veins or yawning motions he's not ready. There should be no blood. Shawluvsbirds posted a good link for you to read.

Wonderful - thank you again!

 

[dearheartshomestead]

If the duckling doesn’t pip through the membrane, will the vessels ever begin to dry up? I am keeping it in the incubator and keeping the membrane moist. Is just doesn’t look like any other duckling I’ve ever assisted. It’s very dark under the membrane. I’m hoping it didn’t hit a vessel if that spot yesterday was it’s attempt at pipping.

 

[dearheartshomestead]

Looks like mama duck tried to assist. Here is an article to help you out. I would fire up the incubator and follow these instructions if you want to save it. It will most likely not make it if you return it under the mama like that.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

Thank you so much - this article is fantastic!

 

[dearheartshomestead]

Thank you so much - this article is fantastic!

I am wondering if it is malpositioned. I feel like I can see it's beak not under a wing. And there is a dark circle forming around the shell where the air cell is?

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I am wondering if it is malpositioned. I feel like I can see it's beak not under a wing. And there is a dark circle forming around the shell where the air cell is?

The dark circle your seeing is probably from whatever you are putting on the membrane to moisten it. It will kind of make the shell change color. Just keep that membrane moistend up every few hours and watch for those veins to recede.

 

[dearheartshomestead]

The dark circle your seeing is probably from whatever you are putting on the membrane to moisten it. It will kind of make the shell change color. Just keep that membrane moistend up every few hours and watch for those veins to recede.

So they will still recede even if there is no pip? Thank you so much for your help!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

So they will still recede even if there is no pip? Thank you so much for your help!

I believe they will some, yes.
Once they start to look like they aren't so full you should be able to try and locate the bill and see if you can make a pip hole for it (in between blood vessels still) so it can start to breathe oxygen.

 

[MGG]

Yep, they'll recede even though it hasn't pipped. I once had to manually hatch a keet, all it did on its own was internally pip. It took a course of 3 days to hatch it, but I did it. She's a special girl. Since yours might not have internally pipped expect it to take a while. Tomorrow I might out a tiny hole in the exposed membrane so it can start to breathe air. I wouldn't do anything outside of the air cell, just to be safe. The chick doesn't look malpositioned to me. The wing is not usually visible. I think it looks fine. I think the dark color you're seeing is normal too, it's pretty dark down in that egg. If it had not a blood vein the shell would be very bruised. I agree with Shaw, the dark area around the air cell is probably the oil.

 

[dearheartshomestead]

Yep, they'll recede even though it hasn't pipped. I once had to manually hatch a keet, all it did on its own was internally pip. It took a course of 3 days to hatch it, but I did it. She's a special girl. Since yours might not have internally pipped expect it to take a while. Tomorrow I might out a tiny hole in the exposed membrane so it can start to breathe air. I wouldn't do anything outside of the air cell, just to be safe. The chick doesn't look malpositioned to me. The wing is not usually visible. I think it looks fine. I think the dark color you're seeing is normal too, it's pretty dark down in that egg. If it had not a blood vein the shell would be very bruised. I agree with Shaw, the dark area around the air cell is probably the oil.

Thank you so much!