Help! I have a chicken egg that turned out to be a duck! It is struggling!

[Amanser]

Hello,
I am new here and just hatching my first baby chicks. I had great success...but I have one left and it looks like it is a DUCK! I received 14 mixed eggs (with breed names). 3 broke in incubator the first 2 days. The next 10 hatched great (one we helped a bit). One egg is left and it's been 4 days since the first egg hatched (the others all hatched within about 24 hours). After reading alot, we have left this light green egg in the incubator and I have been candling the egg (no pip). This morning we could see he was internally pipped. Also, his airsac early on was saddle like (is that correct)? He looked pretty big. We opened a little external pip and then realized his beak is a duck beak! There are still red veins and we put him back in. About 6 hours later I took im out again in high humidity bathroom and took a bit more shell off. He seems to be trying to come out but I'm so worried about him! I put a wet paper towel under him and trying to raise the humidity - he looks dry inside and I put a little water around him (not his beak). I've moved the incubator by the other chicks hoping their little chirps will help him. I'm so excited I have a duck! Is there hope for him? Also, has this ever happened to anyone else? I am just loving my little chicks!
Thank you for any advice!
Amy

 

[MGG]

Hello,
I am new here and just hatching my first baby chicks. I had great success...but I have one left and it looks like it is a DUCK! I received 14 mixed eggs (with breed names). 3 broke in incubator the first 2 days. The next 10 hatched great (one we helped a bit). One egg is left and it's been 4 days since the first egg hatched (the others all hatched within about 24 hours). After reading alot, we have left this light green egg in the incubator and I have been candling the egg (no pip). This morning we could see he was internally pipped. Also, his airsac early on was saddle like (is that correct)? He looked pretty big. We opened a little external pip and then realized his beak is a duck beak! There are still red veins and we put him back in. About 6 hours later I took im out again in high humidity bathroom and took a bit more shell off. He seems to be trying to come out but I'm so worried about him! I put a wet paper towel under him and trying to raise the humidity - he looks dry inside and I put a little water around him (not his beak). I've moved the incubator by the other chicks hoping their little chirps will help him. I'm so excited I have a duck! Is there hope for him? Also, has this ever happened to anyone else? I am just loving my little chicks!
Thank you for any advice!
Amy

Welcome to BYC! If it is a duck they have longer incubation periods, so it would not be ready to hatch yet. You need to stop helping it, or it will probably die. Did it ever internally or externally pip on it's own? I would not enncourage it to hatch yet, if he does he'll probably hatch with an unabsorbed yolk sac, which could get infected or rupture. and kill him. Take out the paper towel because those actually draw out humidity from the egg, and rub some coconut oil on his membrane. Up the humidity to 70%. Fingers crossed for him, good luck, and congrats on your great hatch rate!

 

[Amanser]

Thank you! He did internally pip about a day ago. How does that affect him? I'll take out the paper towel - I thought if it was wet and hot it would increase the humidity that was low. Coconut oil? Ok...I know its good for many things. Thank you!

 

[MGG]

Thank you! He did internally pip about a day ago. How does that affect him? I'll take out the paper towel - I thought if it was wet and hot it would increase the humidity that was low. Coconut oil? Ok...I know its good for many things. Thank you!

So he is externally pipped, correct? Well, she they internally pip they start breathing air, and they only have about 24 hours worth of air inside the air cell, so its important that they don't run out. You can put in a hot wet sponge if you want to increase humidity, or a pan of water. More surface area of water = more humidity. Good luck!

 

[Amanser]

Welcome to BYC! If it is a duck they have longer incubation periods, so it would not be ready to hatch yet. You need to stop helping it, or it will probably die. Did it ever internally or externally pip on it's own? I would not enncourage it to hatch yet, if he does he'll probably hatch with an unabsorbed yolk sac, which could get infected or rupture. and kill him. Take out the paper towel because those actually draw out humidity from the egg, and rub some coconut oil on his membrane. Up the humidity to 70%. Fingers crossed for him, good luck, and congrats on your great hatch rate!
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[MGG]

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Aw! Cute little thing. Put it in a cup lined with paper towels or toilet paper so it can finish absorbing those blood veins. It looks about done absorbing. That goop can be removed.

 

[Amanser]

Hello again,
Here are pictures of my little guy. I'm not exactly sure what day it is for him - my chicks hatched 4-5 days ago. He is moving and peeps a little but it looks like the yolk sac is still attached. How long should I leave him in the incubator at this point? Can he still absorb the sac? Thank you for any help!
Amy

 

[MGG]

Actually, I just looled again and still see some little active vessels. Put it in a cup, don't remove the goopy stuff, and let it finish absorbing.

 

[MGG]

Hello again,
Here are pictures of my little guy. I'm not exactly sure what day it is for him - my chicks hatched 4-5 days ago. He is moving and peeps a little but it looks like the yolk sac is still attached. How long should I leave him in the incubator at this point? Can he still absorb the sac? Thank you for any help!
Amy

I see mostly embryo wastes, (the goopy stuff) but I do see some small veins that will bleed a lot of broken. Get a bowl, fill it with toilet paper or paper towels, and put him and the egg shell inside. This is so he can absorb it without breaking ut by dragging the shell around and breaking the cord. Good luck! It looks like a cute little mallard or rouen duckling. What a lucky surprise!

 

[Amanser]

Actually, I just looled again and still see some little active vessels. Put it in a cup, don't remove the goopy stuff, and let it finish absorbing.

Thank you, here is another picture that shows better. When he lifted his leg I could see it still attached with a small sac I think. If I put him in the bowl should i have him under a heat light or in my small bathroom with high humidity? If he is at day 25 or 26 does he still have a chance? Thank you so much for your help. I appreciate it so much! He is darling!