Help Help Help!! Ducks Are Hatching Day Of Lockdown!!!

[maralynn28]

Good Luck!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Good luck

 

[kare21162]

Well I think I have it under control now! I have 2 that are completely zipped, one of those is half in/half out! Then I have a 3rd that is starting to zip! So my humidity looks good now...thank you all for all your support!!! Will post pictures soon! I have a thread in the Duck Index called The Duckling Project

 

[Kittymomma]

 

[kare21162]

Ok, I have 2 that are still sitting in the bottom half of the egg. I don't think they can get out. I have the eggs in an egg carton...so I'm assuming that is why. There is another egg that has a large pip...but I can't see inside the hole yet. Everytime I go in there and talk to them they struggle to get out of the egg...maybe they are stuck to the bottom of it?? The humidity is over 80%...so I don't think that's an issue with that. Should I open up the window and help them out? Or should I just leave them be? Their heads are pretty close to the heating element! I'm torn on what to do! I guess the egg carton thing has it's cons!

 

[yotetrapper]

Leave them be. If they're early it's possible they're still in the shell absorbing the rest of their yolk sacs. Go to bed, and they'll be hatched in the morning for you. If they're zipping, all should be good.

 

[Kittymomma]

A few of my chicks "sat" in the bottom of the egg for awhile too, but they all made it out without help, just had to rest awhile and gear up for that final push. Ducklings and their eggs are bigger then the chicks though so if you think the heating element is a problem go ahead and help. I haven't hatched ducklings yet (11 under a broody hen and 9 more in the bator) so I'm not sure. If you do feel like you have to get into the bator I'd definetly go the hout steamy bathroom route so that you're less likely to jeprodize the yet to hatch ducklings.

ETA: It might be better to just slide the cartons over so that they're not under the heating element and not try to take the ducklings out. Prev. poster makes a very good point about the yolk sac possibly not being fully absorbed yet even though they're zipped.

 

[kare21162]

Well one was able to get out. He made his first poop inside the egg too. So now he's trying to figure out how to use his legs! The other one is still trying...I'll leave them alone...

 

[Kittymomma]

Hehhhee, I just noticed that were neighbors.

 

[kare21162]

Quote:
That's AWESOME! Howdy Neighbor!