The first of the eggs due pipped on Monday, late last night it was showing signs of distress, like it couldn't turn any more in the egg and was crying about it. I watched ALL day yesterday for progress, none, after reaching half-zipped. So I waited on the membrane to lose the blood (does it get absorbed too I guess?) and helped the little guy out. He pushed with all he had too! like "I'm coming! I can do it! PUSH" He was so stuck, after I got in there and looked. No room to move at all, like he kept on growing after the pip and got too big.
He's mostly dry this morning, sitting upright, screaming for me (maybe I'll cave and have a pocket duck until another comes out). Not sure why I'm calling it a he, I should switch to she. Positive reinforcement! lol I watched a video on vent sexing ducklings but I'm scared to try it.
Pictures later when it's safe to open the incubator! Still waiting on 4 more, they're all staggered, so I was surprised the Mallard egg pipped too with this first one. The other Pekin is tapping inside, and the Saxony are still going but have another 5 days.
Every rule in the book was broken with this first one though. It didn't get a proper lock down because it was early. It was turned all the way until it pipped! I bumped humidity as soon as I saw the pip and have been working on maintaining it. I helped it because it still ended up stuck at the 48 hour mark from when I noticed the pip. The help was a couple hours too early because it wasn't 100% closed up with the yolk, more like 97% done absorbing. And of course helping it meant opening the 'bator, where I saw the Mallard pipped too. Hope it isn't shrink wrapped and stuck!
But it's out, it's perky, I have a duckling!
I want to do an Easter photo shoot and put the new bunnies and ducklings in a basket together, it will be SO cute! Supposing the bunnies cooperate and don't trample the ducks.
He's mostly dry this morning, sitting upright, screaming for me (maybe I'll cave and have a pocket duck until another comes out). Not sure why I'm calling it a he, I should switch to she. Positive reinforcement! lol I watched a video on vent sexing ducklings but I'm scared to try it.
Pictures later when it's safe to open the incubator! Still waiting on 4 more, they're all staggered, so I was surprised the Mallard egg pipped too with this first one. The other Pekin is tapping inside, and the Saxony are still going but have another 5 days.
Every rule in the book was broken with this first one though. It didn't get a proper lock down because it was early. It was turned all the way until it pipped! I bumped humidity as soon as I saw the pip and have been working on maintaining it. I helped it because it still ended up stuck at the 48 hour mark from when I noticed the pip. The help was a couple hours too early because it wasn't 100% closed up with the yolk, more like 97% done absorbing. And of course helping it meant opening the 'bator, where I saw the Mallard pipped too. Hope it isn't shrink wrapped and stuck!
But it's out, it's perky, I have a duckling!
I want to do an Easter photo shoot and put the new bunnies and ducklings in a basket together, it will be SO cute! Supposing the bunnies cooperate and don't trample the ducks.
