HELP!!!! IS THIS NORMAL!!! ASAP!

[Jennifer Rogers]

Hey, I have this duck egg in my incubator. It is on day 24 of incubation I think. My duck that was sitting on 4 eggs abandoned it after a snake ate 3 of them, so I am trying to hatch the lone survivor. What I think is under the duckling, on the pointy side, is some black spots and streaks. I know they aren't veins, but they move when the duckling moves. The duckling moves every time I candle it, and I can see healthy blood vessels and veins. The duckling is growing. Here is a pic of it. What do you think? Has anybody had this in their duck eggs? It showed up maybe 3 days ago. There is no foul odor.

Also, the air cell seems a bit small. This pic is from yesterday. This morning a drilled a small safety hole and have given it two 10-minute misting and cooling sessions this morning. The air cell has grown, but nothing very noticeable. IS this normal. I read it should be a third of the egg's size by day 25. On day 24 and does not look a third of the size. I am so scared. Other than these things, the duckling is moving and seems active, with red veins. I saw a little webbed foot through the shell this morning.

 

[Jennifer Rogers]

Here is a pic of the air cell from yesterday.

 

[Jennifer Rogers]

PLEASE!!! HELP! Anybody here. I don't want this duck to die!

 

[Jennifer Rogers]

I would really appreciate if someone helped. The little duckling is so important to me.

 

[WingItRanch]

I can't help but I feel for you! Try posting this under the "Emergency /Disease topic too.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I hatch ducklings every spring and the air cell usually does not jump in size until day 26-27. You should not have made a safety hole this early. Never make a safety hole until the duckling is at the very least internally pipped even then safety holes often just introduce bacteria and can cause the membrane to be exposed to air too early if you do not know what you are doing. As far as the spots I have yet to fine definitive research on exactly what they are. I have heard anything from blood clots forming, a ducklings toe nails clipping veins, an egg tooth hitting a vein etc. I have had both successful and non-successful batches with those spots showing up. I would just keep an eye on the veins. As long as they are strong, healthy not getting smaller and the duckling is active those are all good signs.

 

[Jennifer Rogers]

Akk!!! I heard the air cell should be one third the size by day 25. What can I do to help protect him now that the deed is already done?