HELP PLEASE A.S.A.P! ! Duck Egg may have broken the air cell/malposition

[Jessicamtorres93]

HI,

My ducks were hiding eggs in the corner of the coop behind a little hut. I found them and when I candled one, it already have veins. I don't know exactly how old it was though. This was around July... Now it is August 17th and I think the air cell was broken because instead of an oval, it has a sharp bend in the middle of the air cell. I am not sure if I should make a whole or what. I know people are against helping a hatch because they say the ducks/chickens won't grow up strong but I believe that is false. I have incubated 3 eggs before and all 3 hatched and 1 of them needed major assistance. It was last year so I am forgetting how the air cell is supposed to look. Below are pictures of the air cell. I see the chick moving and hope it is not shrink wrapped or not positioned correctly. Please help! Should I assist? It almost looks like its struggling because you can see pushing but no pip since yesterday morning.

 

[Jessicamtorres93]

Pictures below

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Possible shadowing. If so, look to find an internal pip soon. I'll grab a link that will possibly help. I always read it right before hatch.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Also, I wouldn't hold the egg like this for candling at this point of incubation. If you hold the egg in its original position, on its side, it's less likely to become disoriented by the movement.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

To answer your question, I wouldn't do anything right now. Are the eggs going back under a broody duck or in an incubator?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Guide to Assisted Hatching for All Poultry

This could also be the draw down. Either way, if this was my egg, I wouldn't do anything right now. Others may come on and direct you to do otherwise. Reading the article I posted will help you decide what's best in your opinion.

Side note: I always assist any hatchling that need assistance

 

[Jessicamtorres93]

Guide to Assisted Hatching for All Poultry

This could also be the draw down. Either way, if this was my egg, I wouldn't do anything right now. Others may come on and direct you to do otherwise. Reading the article I posted will help you decide what's best in your opinion.

Side note: I always assist any hatchling that need assistance

Thanks for the quick reply. I know you're not supposed to candle at this stage but Im a little worried. I have a camera looking into the incubator and the egg was moving around a lot today like it was trying to hatch. I put it back in the same position. Doesn't the air sack look weird though? Its not a perfect oval anymore, its like its been breeched but its been like this since yesterday and I don't see a beak, but I can kind of see a foot and wing. Worried he's in the wrong position. Does it look 28 days old? Its a pekin btw. I think it might even be 29 days old. I have pictures from a few weeks ago if the may help determine