Help mallard eggs pipped 3 days ago not zipped

[Sandraw61]

They're on day 30 as of today. That's what has me concerned.

 

[cmobley]

open it up see if they're still tapping just make sure your humidity stays up so if they are the environment will stay right. I usually get a cup of warm water ready and pour some in after I have to pop the top it'll help keep humidity from dropping to low if you have to put em back in.

 

[Sandraw61]

open it up see if they're still tapping just make sure your humidity stays up so if they are the environment will stay right. I usually get a cup of warm water ready and pour some in after I have to pop the top it'll help keep humidity from dropping to low if you have to put em back in.

Do still hear very lite tapping

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Do still hear very lite tapping

It's your call if you want to interfere or not. They're likely fine but read the assisted hatching threads and decide how you'd like to proceed. There's no perfect time to start assisting. That line is razor thin. Too early or too late assists are usually deadly. But that call is completely yours alone to make as you'll have to live with the decision.

 

[Sandraw61]

It's your call if you want to interfere or not. They're likely fine but read the assisted hatching threads and decide how you'd like to proceed. There's no perfect time to start assisting. That line is razor thin. Too early or too late assists are usually deadly. But that call is completely yours alone to make as you'll have to live with the decision.

 

[Sandraw61]

We'll be waiting. Thanks still hear movement

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

How are the doing today?

 

[Sandraw61]

How are the doing today?

Still no external pip. Starting to get very worried. Don't want to disturb them by checking them but not sure what to do.

 

[swampfox440]

I had this same thing happen when hatching wild mallards and on the 30th night I went to bed got up the next morning . To my surprise they were all hatched except for three . That's not bad I had set 30 . The two were dead in the shell and one quit developing half way . Wish you luck ! Mark

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Still no external pip. Starting to get very worried. Don't want to disturb them by checking them but not sure what to do.

Bummer. That's no good. Hopefully they just need a bit more time. I haven't hatched enough duck eggs to be very helpful at this point. Maybe your temperature was just a bit low and they're taking longer. Outside of getting really invasive and going into the egg there's not much to be done. Some people do "safety holes" but that alone won't save a chick/duckling who's struggling. There are also cons to adding them. Such as the CO2 build up in the egg is what trigger piping. If you safety hole they may stop trying to pip altogether. Or you could injure the bird if you go too far into the egg.