Help, need answer quick, a baby depends on this...PICS ADDED

[70%cocoa]

Sorry for going AWOL - getting ready for a wedding - not mine though.

The duckling may be resting. If you candle the egg can you see movement? I can only tell you what I'd do if it was my egg. I'd leave it and not intervene unless the duckling had been strong enough to unzip the egg itself but got stuck at that stage. The rationale is that a duckling that can't break the shell isn't likely to make it even if you help it out. But that's just the way I see it.

You could spray the egg with warm water if you are worried about low humidity.

It might just be that this little one isn't going to make it... I'm sorry that it hasn't progressed much.

 

[emjay]

70%cocoa :

Sorry for going AWOL - getting ready for a wedding - not mine though.

The duckling may be resting. If you candle the egg can you see movement? I can only tell you what I'd do if it was my egg. I'd leave it and not intervene unless the duckling had been strong enough to unzip the egg itself but got stuck at that stage. The rationale is that a duckling that can't break the shell it's likely to make it even if you help it out. But that's just the way I see it.

You could spray the egg with warm water if you are worried about low humidity.

It might just be that this little one isn't going to make it... I'm sorry that it hasn't progressed much.

ugh weddings, haha, it's that time of year again, I have to do a small wedding cake tomorrow, so it begins.

could it be possible that the duckling is healthy, what if the membrane is just too leathery for it to get out ??

so that being said, about it not making it, I really don't have much to lose then if I help it out.
I helped 5 chicks out last spring, not knowing anything, had no bator , nothing. and those girls are all laying now. and I even pipped and zipped some of the eggs myself. I hadn't learned any of these hatching rules yet, so I sure lucked out with them chicks.
It's peeping at me when I talk to it,​

 

[Nikkumz]

If its still peeping at you, id leave it alone. Its very doubtful that its shrink wrapped if there is no external pip. Candle it and tell us what you see, or take a pic while candling and post it here

 

[thndrdancr]

Personally I would very very carefully pip a small hole in the air cell end of the egg, so it can get air. But thats just me. I am a helper, day 34 is getting pretty late.

 

[70%cocoa]

I agree with both of the above people (edit, well a hybrid of both the above...) - candle it, then make a little hole in the air cell end. Then leave it do do it's own thing for a bit. If you see any blood stop immediately.

 

[Nikkumz]

I agree with above, then by opening the top of the egg you can also see the thickness of the shell. If the shell is a tiny bit too thick it may not be able to pip itself .

 

[Baralak]

DITTO... I would also pip a small hole in the large side of the egg.

 

[Nikkumz]

Also, are you counting days from he day the first egg was laid and sat on? because if so, this could be the very last egg laid. If it is it may be days younger than the others, or were these bought and put under the hen?

 

[emjay]

the eggs were collected and put under a chicken on the same day.

I've intervened, and I'm glad I did, that baby would never have made it on its own. the air sac was okay, but the the one membrane was like glue to its feathers, I took it into the bathroom, ran the hot shower, steamed it up good, and unglued it, I am leaving the rest up to the duckling. It's been stretching its feet a bit, and its wing.
We are now holding it by the fire, with a damp cloth on the egg.
I will keep you posted on this.
My daughter is happy to be holding her new baby.
I had success with chicks this way, so I'm hopeful with this duckling.
duck eggs are tough, wow. are they supposed to be this hard and leathery ???

 

[Nikkumz]

Not trying to be mean...But DO NOT let her sit there and hold it!! It needs to be in the incubator especially if its not fully out of the egg and even if you did take it out, it needs to stay in there to dry off. If it isnt able to dry off and learn to walk around in the process its going to be weak, Especially since it was too weak to hatch itself.