HELP!!

[Jday]

Hi,I'm sure I will get backlash and I deserve it. I've been incubating 6 duck eggs from my female peking. This morning they started pipping, I was super excited too excited and made a poor choice, thinking I would be helping I opened him up a little. The yolk sack is still attached and he's breathing but as I read more after the fact the blood vessels had not all the Way been absorbed into the duck.I'm beyond upset with myself. What do I do??? Will he die?? Please anyone if you can help I'd be very greatful

 

[silkie1472]

I have done this many times when I first began hatching eggs. It is not a very good decision, but I have have never had one die from it. If he is still attached to the egg, wrap him is a warm, wet paper towel where he will stay still and will not dry out. Place him back in the incubator and open it as little as possible. Check on him around every 1-2 hours to see if the yolk is being absorbed. As long as the yolk has not ruptured or the duck has not bled much, he should be able to survive. In some cases, the yolk will fall off or not absorb. Do not try removing it. If he survives, make sure that he has immediate access to food and water. I have done this with chickens, turkeys, quail, and ducks.

 

[silkie1472]

If he is not still in the egg, do the same, but either way, do not cover his head.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I am sure there are others who are way more qualified to answer (who hopefully will), but here is my opinion.
First, don't beat yourself up, we all make mistakes and it goes against our nature to watch them struggle.
Second, how much did you help? Is he all the way out?
As you have realized you really shouldn't help unless they are in real trouble. Having said that, I had one which I helped hatch after he pipped the wrong end and then didn't progress for over 24 hours. I stopped whenever I saw blood and waited 3-4 hours. It took over 16 hours so he was in his shell a long time. When he finally came out there was a small amount of yolk and he had trouble standing. He just laid there for a while and then started to recover. It took a few hours and he had some trouble walking for the first couple of weeks but he is a beautiful 4 month old now. So, I hope yours will be OK too.

 

[Jday]

He's halfway still in the egg and kicking and chipping as soon as I realized I really should not have done that I put him back in the Incubator and that's been about two hours now. I'm going to wet a paper towel with warm water and wrap him in it now.

 

[silkie1472]

Okay, good! As long as you are able to keep him secured in his egg shell, he should be able to absorb it. Helping them is very tempting, but should only be done unless it is an emergency. I am hatching silkies now and they are very slow with hatching and I wish that I could get them out already. When I do help, I candle the egg about 4 times in 20 minutes and make sure that there is not a vein that I will hit while helping. Hope that he makes it. Keep us updated.

 

[Jday]

I wetc a paper towel with warm water and wrapped him In it. He seems to like that and snuggled in. I guess all.I can do is wait

 

[silkie1472]

More than likely, when the yolk gets absorbed, he will come out on his own, but there are some that come out anyways and you have to constantly put them back, so when I have to do this for those who hatch early I usually surround them in eggs.

 

[Jday]

Great advice thanks so much! For now he seems to be doing good. The other 5 eggs haven't hatched yet still moving around so they should keep him surrounded a little.

 

[silkie1472]

You're welcome. My ducks usually hatched 24-30 hours after pipping. My silkies are hatching now and screaming as loud as they can.