Help!!

[Daisy24]

I’m hatching miniature appleyard ducklings, and I’m on day 23 (just). I candled them today and there still seems to be a lot of clear at the bottom of 4 of the eggs (I’m guessing unabsorbed albumen).There’s a lot of movement still and all the air cells seem to be developing! Any idea why this is happening??

 

[Stipenvlerk]

Did you get an answer? How are the eggs doing?

 

[Daisy24]

No! Three still look very empty at the bottom and small but I’ve just candled them and I’m sure I can make out a beak in the empty space at the wrong end in at least one!! They were shipped to me upside down, don’t know wether that was a factor!

 

[AllenK RGV]

@WVduckchick might be able to offer some useful advice. I only know chicken.

 

[Daisy24]

Thankyou! I’ll post a picture for reference if anyone can help, this is what 3 of the eggs look like the dark spot what I think is a beak, it’s tapping the side as if pipped internally

 

[AllenK RGV]

Pregratulations! It looks to my eye as if you will have a successful hatch. I hope you are ready with your brooder.

 

[Daisy24]

I would think so too if this wasn’t the wrong end of the egg guess only time will tell

 

[WVduckchick]

Can’t be pipped internally, if that is the end of the egg opposite from the air cell. Did I read that correctly?

That is quite a bit of clear fluid, glad you still see movement. They have a few days to go, so hopefully they will absorb more of that.

But I expect you will have a really gooey hatch. If that stuff doesn’t disappear, it will come out with the duckling, and it’s super sticky and hardens like glue! It’s not a death sentence, but when they hatch, you might have to clean the face/eyes and beak. You don’t want that stuff to clog the nostrils especially. The goo on the body is not as critical to clean quickly, but it’s awful on the head and face, so best to get washed off fairly soon after hatch. I use a warm, damp paper towel, or cotton ball, etc. Even a soft toothbrush can be helpful

I would also recommend propping up the air cell end of the egg for the rest of the time. It will encourage the duckling to turn toward the air cell, and stay away from that goo.
Good luck!

 

[Daisy24]

Yeah that’s correct!
Amazing thankyou so much for your reply, I’ll prop them up and keep everything crossed

 

[AllenK RGV]

Yeah that’s correct!
Amazing thankyou so much for your reply, I’ll prop them up and keep everything crossed