Help please with first hatch

[WVduckchick]

Me again! Right what do you think I should do with this fella? He made his first tiny pip almost 48 hours ago, I could see there was a whole/crack in the shell but the inner membrane looked intact and I saw no movement from then until this morning when he made what looked like a second pip about 1cm to the right of the first pip, again I could see only the internal membrane. Now over the last 3 hours he's basically made a big hole thats joined those 2 pips together and finally broken through the internal membrane. But my concern is he doesn't look like he's zipping like the others did. I can see his beak move inside the whole when I make noise at him but not much else is happening. Do you think he's stuck? Should I intervene or let nature take it's course? Thanks in advance

It's very common for them to make a "second" pip, but 48 hours is pushing the extreme to zip. Has anything more happened? What day is it on now? You could try chipping some of the shell away, around the air cell end, in the direction it would zip, and see if he's stuck. Have some antibiotic ointment or vaseline ready, and add a thin coat to any exposed membrane.

 

[lj2016]

Since I posted this it's actually started to zip!!! This egg is way overdue, he's on day 30 I think now (I kept him in the hatcher just in case as there was that first pip). Progress seems very slow, I've attached a new pic, so this progress has taken about 2 hours (since I posted last). I had thought there was next to no chance of this guy coming out as it had been so long. I can hear a chirp every now and then and just about make out that he's breathing as the beak is moving. Not sure if he's stuck or maybe I should leave him be now and see what happens? . . .

 

[WVduckchick]

Looks to me like he will make it!

But if he stalls now, I'd chip the air cell off. Hopefully he has made it out by now!

 

[lj2016]

Oh my gosh he's out!!!

Here's a pic of the poor fella spreadeagled as he tries to stand. I can't believe it as he literally pipped and was totally still for almost 2 straight days! He's in the hatcher now drying out, I'll keep a close watch the next few hours and then he can go in the brooder with the other 2 ducklings. Wow this hatching stuff really tests your nerves and patience! Also I've put a pic below of the gunk that popped out with him, is this normal or are they not absorbing the yolk as they should be (the last one had this too)?

 

[lj2016]

Left him in the hatcher overnight and just took him out as he wasn't dry. Tried to wash him with warm water as best I could as he's a little crusty but he seemed scared so I stopped. Slightly worried as he's just sitting there and not trying to move around. He is chirping a lot, almost constantly. If I do nudge him to move he seems to slide along rather than try and stand upright. Is that noral or is there something wrong with him? Got my brooder at about 85°. So far the 2 other chicks seem afraid of him

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Left him in the hatcher overnight and just took him out as he wasn't dry. Tried to wash him with warm water as best I could as he's a little crusty but he seemed scared so I stopped. Slightly worried as he's just sitting there and not trying to move around. He is chirping a lot, almost constantly. If I do nudge him to move he seems to slide along rather than try and stand upright. Is that noral or is there something wrong with him? Got my brooder at about 85°. So far the 2 other chicks seem afraid of him

I think it's too soon to tell. Sometimes ducklings are just weak after hatching, especially if it takes a long time - it's a herculean feat. If there's no obvious leg deformity, he probably just needs some rest. I've seen ducklings that couldn't stand after a lengthy hatch that were fine after a day or so.

 

[WVduckchick]

I agree. That was a hard hatch, but glad he made it!

If you have some vitamins or electrolytes, or nutridrench, i would put some in the water, just for the added boost.

Post a pic when you can!

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh, the gunk is normal

 

[lj2016]

Awesome thanks. He seems to be moving around a bit more now. Hopefully I'll get he hang of this soon and start to learn what's 'normal'. Any advice on what my brooder temp should be? I've got 3 ducklings in there now, the new one and the other 2 which are about a week old now

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Awesome thanks. He seems to be moving around a bit more now. Hopefully I'll get he hang of this soon and start to learn what's 'normal'. Any advice on what my brooder temp should be? I've got 3 ducklings in there now, the new one and the other 2 which are about a week old now

That's good news. Per the Raising and Caring for Ducklings thread, "ducklings need a brooder that is about 90° for the first week and then the temperature should be lowered by 5° each week afterwards. Once the temperature in the brooder is the same as the environment (inside or outside) the heat source can be removed." Link here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings.

I use a Brinsea brooder plate in my brooder (indoors) for chicks and ducklings and really like it.

You'll definitely learn what's "normal" and what's not with experience...just like we all did.