HELP. Hatching ducklings, when should I help?

[c_leam]

Hi all, I have rescued 9 mallard eggs from the wildlife center. They are all alive and moving when I candle them and even pipping the shell. One hatched yesterday and is doing great. It is day 28 (we think, from the day I started incubating them). I have two others who have broken through the shell and made a hole. One of those broke yesterday and hasn't made any progress. I know it takes a while for ducklings to hatch but I am worried the membrane may be dry. I went to go help it but noticed the veins around the membrane so I did not touch it. The other one looks almost very wet on the inside of it, is there potential for it to drown? The beak is poking out so I know it can breath and chirp. When would be the right time to help them? I am worried because the one that hatched yesterday (that is doing excellent) had some leftover yolk (brownish orange stuff) in the lower half of her shell with it still attached. She had some blood, very little on the towel, but I think she hatched too early? I would just like some thoughts/advice on what to do. Thank you!!

 

[MGG]

Hi all, I have rescued 9 mallard eggs from the wildlife center. They are all alive and moving when I candle them and even pipping the shell. One hatched yesterday and is doing great. It is day 28 (we think, from the day I started incubating them). I have two others who have broken through the shell and made a hole. One of those broke yesterday and hasn't made any progress. I know it takes a while for ducklings to hatch but I am worried the membrane may be dry. I went to go help it but noticed the veins around the membrane so I did not touch it. The other one looks almost very wet on the inside of it, is there potential for it to drown? The beak is poking out so I know it can breath and chirp. When would be the right time to help them? I am worried because the one that hatched yesterday (that is doing excellent) had some leftover yolk (brownish orange stuff) in the lower half of her shell with it still attached. She had some blood, very little on the towel, but I think she hatched too early? I would just like some thoughts/advice on what to do. Thank you!!

Do you have a calibrated thermometer inside your incubator? What is the humidity? I would rub some coconut oil on the membranes so they don't dry out. Pics would help. @Pyxis

 

[c_leam]

Do you have a calibrated thermometer inside your incubator? What is the humidity? I would rub some coconut oil on the membranes so they don't dry out. Pics would help. @Pyxis

Thank you! The humidity is about 80% right now. I will get some pictures.

 

[MGG]

Thank you! The humidity is about 80% right now. I will get some pictures.

That seems too high. I'd knock it back to 75

 

[c_leam]

Do you have any advice for how to help the one that has a lot of liquid in its shell? It is definitely not ready to hatch, I can see veins are not fully absorbed from the membrane. It is almost like she spits out bubbles sometimes. I am worried she might inhale too much liquid.

 

[MGG]

Do you have any advice for how to help the one that has a lot of liquid in its shell? It is definitely not ready to hatch, I can see veins are not fully absorbed from the membrane. It is almost like she spits out bubbles sometimes. I am worried she might inhale too much liquid.

Can you post a pic? Maybe try picking it up and see if you can pour some out?

 

[c_leam]

I removed a little of the shell to make sure it could breath. It hasn't made any more bubbles since I did that. I see orangish stuff which I assume to be the yolk? It is still moving and making noises. I do not want to assist further since I see blood veins and they aren't dried up.

Can you post a pic? Maybe try picking it up and see if you can pour some out?

 

[c_leam]

I removed a little of the shell to make sure it could breath. It hasn't made any more bubbles since I did that. I see orangish stuff which I assume to be the yolk? It is still moving and making noises. I do not want to assist further since I see blood veins and they aren't dried up.

It also seems to be a little sticky on the outside of the membrane. I put some coconut oil around it.

 

[MGG]

Sounds good. Leave it be until those blood veins recede.

 

[c_leam]

Thank you for all of the help! How would I tell if the duck is actually trapped once the blood veins recede and needs help? Or if it is stuck to the membrane?