Help Help Help! Hatching emergency and I need info!

[FenDruadin]

Man! Why aren't you in Charlotte??? Hatching ducks, fun nerdy (dorky?) pursuits, Firefly... sheesh. It's like we're long lost sisters. When are you moving here?

My beloved and I used to play IRL RPGs in the old days, but it's hard to get a regular group together when you're raising a family too. I've never been involved in cosplay (I've heard of it even if I didn't know the name for it), but always thought it sounded like loads of fun. You don't happen to also like Shakespeare, do you... ?

 

[reaver]

Sorry, not too much into literature, I'm a film chick. Love my movies (own over 2,000 dvds ), nothin makes me happier than to cuddle up with my hubby, 2 dogs, 2 cats, rabbit and a roo in my lap watching a flick. X3

Naw aint moving out there! But if you are ever in San Diego look me up XD. We usually do anime/comic conventions nad stuf fat least once a month since there are so many nerdy events to do in California! We jsut had San Diego Comiccon, thats the biggest one of our year for sure! Lots of fun stuff this year! ^_^

PS: Jealous moment...I have met Nathan Fillion (Mal) and Jewel Staite (Kaylee) XD

 

[reaver]

......that's it.....if this duckling hatches successfully I'm naming it Mal XD

 

[FenDruadin]

Kaylee is my FAV. So yeah, totally jealous. Sometimes I think I belong in California with the fruits and nuts. I don't blame you for staying there.

 

[FenDruadin]

Or name it Kaylee if it's a girl. Bingo.

 

[reaver]

naw can't name anything Kaylee! My first little girl will be named Kaylee....dont want people to think i named my daughter after one of my ducks! lol

Mal works if its a girl or boy, I like a name that can go either way since we have been surprised with genders before! XD That way the babies have names from day 1!

I'm jsut excited, we are having runner/pekin crosses, so I'm dying to know what our little babies are gonna look like! Our daddy is the runner and hes pitch black with blue/green/purple reflective feathering....handsome boy!

 

[reaver]

...update on the chick....pretty much nothing. It is still breathing/moving and the membrane is starting to come off a little easier now, so it looks like all is going well so far! I hope to have our first baby soon!

 

[kkattt]

Keep the updates coming! Good luck!

 

[reaver]

Ok slightly worried again...no real progress has been made in hours. I went ahead and removed a little of teh already broken up shell pieces to get a better look inside, and now I can see the air pocket, and that there is a light cream/white skin (the inner skin of the egg shell) and I dont see his beak or his head through it at all from where I can see. should I try to remove the skin or poke a hole or something so he can have air? Or is this normal and he can break through it when he is ready. He is still moving/breathing ever so slightly as he has been all day, so not sure if I'm just panicking again or not! Thanks!

 

[FenDruadin]

Don't worry, that all sounds about as expected. At this point, with everything he's been through, he is probably dried in place and going to need help. Anywhere that the membrane is dry and white, he is probably stuck to it. The good news is, those are also points at which there is probably no blood flow and it's safe to gently peel the membrane away to help him out. First, get him good and damp with a WARM (not hot or cool) washcloth. This should be roughly 100 degrees, or close to the temp of your own body (run it over the inside of your wrist and if it doesn't feel warm or cold it's probably about right). Then gently begin peeling up near the large end. If you see bright red blood, stop peeling and let him rest for an hour or so, then try again. If at any point you see a yellow or orange bulbous thing (it may look like it's protruding from his belly, or covered in blood vessels), then he has not absorbed the yolk and you should let him rest several hours. If the yolk is exposed to the air, you'll need to wrap it in CLEAN, warm, damp cloths to keep it moist.

Chances are, he's ready to come out and this won't be hard at all. But always best to be cautious, just don't be stressed (easier said than done!). Good luck!