Help with getting the hatch right

[WVduckchick]

Ok Thankyou I just really want to make sure I get everything right so I can give them a good chance.

I hope all goes well, my story is my wife brought eggs from under a broody duck with out knowing how many days they had been under, up until 2 days ago I found this out and have had them now for about a week, under candle 2 days ago I can tell he already broke the embroy or air sack and when I.put the light at the air sack he pecks at the light, I'm worried sick

Hopefully you have raised the humidity for them? They usually break the shell within 24 hours after breaking the internal membrane. Then it can be 24+ hours after that before they actually start exiting the shell.

 

[kankunkid]

I have raised it, today is about day 3 that when I candle the egg, he pecks at the shell, so.I'm assuming that he's broken the air sack three days ago, when dose one help , and how, and how much longer should I wait?

 

[WVduckchick]

I have raised it, today is about day 3 that when I candle the egg, he pecks at the shell, so.I'm assuming that he's broken the air sack three days ago, when dose one help , and how, and how much longer should I wait?

I can't imagine that one could survive for 3 days in just the air cell.

Do you still see any blood vessels?? Any area around the body that looks like clear fluid? Or does it look all dark? Can you still see air cell?

 

[kankunkid]

Just black mainly at the bottom at the air cell its kinda grey so can't really make out if there's any liquid, there may be some, but it looks like more air than liquid, no blood vessels, the air cell is very big, and is about 1/4th of the egg, is pecking by the duckling common if they are still in the embryo?

 

[kankunkid]

BTW thank you for responding

 

[WVduckchick]

Just black mainly at the bottom at the air cell its kinda grey so can't really make out if there's any liquid, there may be some, but it looks like more air than liquid, no blood vessels, the air cell is very big, and is about 1/4th of the egg, is pecking by the duckling common if they are still in the embryo?

Does the air cell still look round/oval? Or oddly shaped?

When they get ready to hatch, the air cell changes shape. Check out this article -- its about chickens, but has some great candling pics, and the basic principal is the same for ducks, just takes longer. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/development-of-a-chicken-embryo-day-by-day

This is one that has broken the air cell. I guess I'm trying to figure out if yours has definitely invaded the air cell, and needs to be assisted.

 

[kankunkid]

According to the picture the my egg is black where the longest oval at the bottom is and just whit from there back to the top

 

[WVduckchick]

According to the picture the my egg is black where the longest oval at the bottom is and just whit from there back to the top

I'm at a bit of a loss. It does sound like its full and close to hatch time, but doesn't sound like the membrane has been broken. Have you actually heard any chirping or peeping sounds from the duckling? Or is it just pecking/knocking sounds?

 

[kankunkid]

When I hold the candle directly on the air sack, it pecks at the shell/light, and my egg is mostly black from the last oval down to the pointed end, and from the markings last oval back to the top its clear

 

[WVduckchick]

My impression, for what it is worth, would be to just continue to wait. Make sure the temp is close to 100ish (or wherever you have been keeping it, since that seems to be working) and keep the humidity high - 65%-70% and watch for it to break the shell. Sounds like it should happen any time now!

Good luck!