How many day until hatch?

[Nuderenski]

Okay, I got 3 Welsh Harlequin eggs from a neighbor. I was told ducks have a 28 day incubation period. So I incubated them all together about halfway through I candled them and only 1 of the 3 was developing. So I took the 2 out and left the good one in by itself.

Day 25 I put it in lockdown..and... by day 28.... nothing. So I kept it in there an extra 4 days but still nothing... I figured it probably died in the shell so I unplugged the incubator took the egg out and decided to candle the egg.....

To my surprise not only could I see the whole silhouette of a fully developed duckling, but it was moving, alive and pecking on the inside of the shell.. I quickly plugged in incubator back in and put the egg back..

So my question is.... what is the incubation period of a duck? Is it 28 days? Or something else? I am now almost on day 33 and I know for a fact the duckling is still in the egg alive. Could it just be struggling and I should help it at this point? Or should I just continue waiting to see if it hatches on its own?

Looking for some helpful advice.

Anything would be appreciated.

 

[ChickNanny13]

You know it's alive, I'd wait. Will see ask for HELP here....
@WVduckchick @casportpony @BantyChooks

 

[chickens really]

Keep waiting..Sounds like the incubator temp was a bit too low..?
Best of luck with the hatching...

 

[WVduckchick]

Did it look like the bill has pierced into the air cell? Was the air cell drawn down?

 

[Nuderenski]

The head was in the air cell and it was actively pecking the inside of the shell.... it still hasn’t peeped through and that was like 18 hours ago. I am very nervous and wondering if I am at the point that I should help...it seems like it can’t break the shell. This is my first time incubating ducks. I have done lots of chickens...sometimes I have had one hatch a a day or two late.... but never 5 days late...I am shocked it is even still alive.

 

[chickens really]

You can poke a tiny and I Stress tiny hole in the shell at the air cell...

 

[WVduckchick]

I agree. At this point I'd poke a safe hole. It could very well be trapped in the membrane after being cool for so long.

 

[Nuderenski]

So that is what I did.....I candled it again just before.... it is still alive, however it did seem much weaker than yesterday. I used a pushpin and pushed it in just enough to pierce the shell. When I did that it did seem “reinvigorate” it again.

I hope this little guy makes it....

This is crazy... I’ve never seen this happen before.

 

[WVduckchick]

I remember a thread a while back, someone had lost power for a couple days and assumed all the chicks were dead, left it turned off for several days, then heard peeping! Turned it back on and some hatched.

I would recommend if it doesn't break the shell on its own pretty soon (6-8 hours?), remove a larger area of shell over the air cell and check out the membrane. Moisten it with some coconut oil, Vaseline, Neosporin, something like that. Look for active blood vessels. If any are large and apparent, it's not ready yet.

 

[casportpony]

I remember a thread a while back, someone had lost power for a couple days and assumed all the chicks were dead, left it turned off for several days, then heard peeping! Turned it back on and some hatched.

I would recommend if it doesn't break the shell on its own pretty soon (6-8 hours?), remove a larger area of shell over the air cell and check out the membrane. Moisten it with some coconut oil, Vaseline, Neosporin, something like that. Look for active blood vessels. If any are large and apparent, it's not ready yet.