HELP! I assisted a duckling before internal pipping!

[Hamudazahabi]

Did you have a separate calibrated thermometer or hygrometer in the incubator? The built in ones are almost always off and can really mess with your hatch. If your humidity was too high during lockdown your ducklings could have drowned in the shell. Or if it was too low, they couldn't internally pip and died. There are other reasons as well so it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what happened.

I made my incubator. I ordered a thermostat and set it to 37.5 and put the sensor on the eggs, and connect the thermostat to light bulb and install all components in a polystyrene container, and add a hygrometer from the outside. I also tried using a digital thermometer that senses from distance, and it was giving the same temperature.

The humidity was 79 but sometimes it rised to 90. However I don't think it drowned because the membrane of the egg I opened had the membrane very dry. I am sure the humidity was high even if the hygrometer was wrong because I could see water droplets on the plastic window in my incubator.

I think it was malpositioned or something because its legs were over its head and the head was tucked in.

 

[The Birb King]

I made my incubator. I ordered a thermostat and set it to 37.5 and put the sensor on the eggs, and connect the thermostat to light bulb and install all components in a polystyrene container, and add a hygrometer from the outside. I also tried using a digital thermometer that senses from distance, and it was giving the same temperature.

The humidity was 79 but sometimes it rised to 90. However I don't think it drowned because the membrane of the egg I opened had the membrane very dry. I am sure the humidity was high even if the hygrometer was wrong because I could see water droplets on the plastic window in my incubator.

I think it was malpositioned or something because its legs were over its head and the head was tucked in.

That's probably why your eggs failed. Homemade incubators usually don't work well

 

[Hamudazahabi]

Shipping is very hard on the eggs and most people don't get good results. I've had many shipped eggs make it to lockdown but not hatch.

Also, Sorry that it was under sad circumstances but we're glad to have you here with us.

The thing is I have no other way of obtaining duck eggs right now. There is no nearby farm here. The eggs were literally shipped from another island and I think they went through an aeroplane.

And by the way, no problem I guess it was for me to get experience only. Thank you.

 

[Hamudazahabi]

That's probably why your eggs failed. Homemade incubators usually don't work well

But I think the main reason was the shipping. I have tried using an incubator I made long time ago (only a light bulb and a fan without any thermometer or thermostat, but I placed it far away, and I made it with the help of my father) and put in chicken eggs from my farm and most hatched.

 

[The Birb King]

But I think the main reason was the shipping. I have tried using an incubator I made long time ago (only a light bulb and a fan without any thermometer or thermostat, but I placed it far away, and I made it with the help of my father) and put in chicken eggs from my farm and most hatched.

Yea it could be, its just hard to tell sometimes. I used to have these white foam incubators but just got rid of them because they were unreliable and got better ones instead. But it could've also been the shipping.

 

[Hamudazahabi]

Yea it could be, its just hard to tell sometimes. I used to have these white foam incubators but just got rid of them because they were unreliable and got better ones instead. But it could've also been the shipping.

I didn't want to buy an incubator in the first time because the things I needed to make it are much cheaper than a ready incubator and I didn't want to risk it not working after paying all that especially since it's the first time. I turned them manually, although I just remembered there were 3 days I had to be away and couldn't turn them at all but I turned them before going and right after I returned.

 

[Hamudazahabi]

I didn't want to buy an incubator in the first time because the things I needed to make it are much cheaper than a ready incubator and I didn't want to risk it not working after paying all that especially since it's the first time. I turned them manually, although I just remembered there were 3 days I had to be away and couldn't turn them at all but I turned them before going and right after I returned.

This is my incubator:

 

[Hamudazahabi]

I bought this eggs online. I orderd 5 and got one extra as a gift, and at the end none of them hatched...
I guess I will only have chickens for now.

Thank you for your help.

I think the only way for me to get ducks right now is to buy ducklings from a store near me. Do you think It's a good idea? How do I choose the best ducklings? If I remember correctly, the only duck that I found before was muscovy duck...

 

[Kenya Mwangi]

Hello!
I have been incubating duck eggs for the first time. I placed 6 eggs in the incubator, 4 were fertilized and 2 were not, and then later one of the 4 died, so I am currently left with three eggs.

Yesterday was day 28, and all the eggs still didn't do internal pipping yet. I also realized there has been no movement since day 25 and so I thought the ducklings were having trouble. I only assisted one duckling first so that if anything is wrong, I won't risk all the eggs.

What I did yesterday was I made a hole in the egg shell at the top and confirmed that the air cell was not pipped yet. I then carefully opened the membrane but the bill was not found there. Since it was not moving, I was scared that it was malpositioned or something so I was afraid it chockes to death. I then removed the whole shell and brought the duckling out, and slowly removed all the albumen sticking on it. I did all that with sterilized tools.

I found its bill under its legs, so I moved its legs. It's body is fully complete, but it has not absorbed the yolk sac yet. I placed it in the incubator. The thing is it is not moving and it doesn't look like it's breathing yet, but it is still alive. I know its alive because it is still soft and has no bad smell. I left it in the incubator overnight and it's currently morning. Its body is still soft and it still has no bad smell. The yolk sac seems slightly smaller.

I don't know if it will absorb it fully, and I don't know when will it start breathing. I think I assisted early so I left the other eggs be without assisting them. I hope the duckling can survive.

I don't want people to tell me that what I opened it too early and shouldn't have because I already know that. I want people to help me know what to do next, and wether this duckling can survive or not.

I'm sorry. I am sad with you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think the only way for me to get ducks right now is to buy ducklings from a store near me. Do you think It's a good idea? How do I choose the best ducklings? If I remember correctly, the only duck that I found before was muscovy duck...

Nothing wrong with Muscovy they are great birds.

Very sorry you lost your ducklings.