I have no idea what I am doing

[biophiliac]

at what point after the external pip at 10 am this morning should there be discussion about helping?

Have you tried making 'peeping noises' at it....or find a sound file of chicks peeping online and playback? Give you something to do while you wait.

 

[WVduckchick]

it's really a tough call, and more of a gut instinct. But generally, they are still absorbing yolk, even after external pip, so helping too soon can be disastrous. Absorption happens much quicker and more efficiently while he is inside that shell.

having said that, I hope it doesn't come to this, but the membrane should stay papery white to wet-looking gray. if it starts looking brown, he may have stopped moving (they constantly make little movements and stay lubricated) and may be drying out. That would be the signal to possibly start assisting. Slowwwwwly, start by chipping away around the pip hole and find his bill. Free breathing is first priority when assisting. Then moisten any exposed membrane with vaseline or coconut oil, and look for active blood vessels. You do not want to rip thru any blood vessels. Any bleeding at all, stop! and wait until vessels recede. keep in mind that usually once you start assisting, it's a process too, and must be done slowly. But once you start, you will likely have to continue (over a period of a few hours) until it fully hatches.

 

[biophiliac]

this might give you an idea of the process in an emergency. But I would always rely on advice from this site before Youtube!! We all hope it hatches by itself and you don't need to help

 

[Ravynscroft]

WV said it better than I could, lol...

Your humidity sounds fine, even if it's off by a bit should still be ok... like WV said, watch for browning of the membrane around the pip holes...

 

[WVduckchick]

thanks Ravyn.

I'm off to bed. Hope to see a hatched duckling in the a.m.

 

[Steven Mazzo]

The two external pips are still covered in the shell I can not even see the membrane to tell what color it is. I can tell you that I have regularly candled this chick since this process started and it has not moved at all, it merely wiggles. Its almost as if the bill is through the membrane but the rest is stuck just suspended in that same spot. The bill is still right up against the two pip cracks. I just candled again and this the same place. It has not moved around inside at all. Should I removed the two small pip circles it made to see what is there? I have no experience with this at all but from all the reading and video watching Im affraid its stuck and can not move. Its opening its bill to breath and every breath it takes it almost like a rocking motion like its a labored breath or possible because its just curled up in there so tight. I fear the worst and can not deal with losing this chick after all Ive done. Please help @WVduckchick @Ravynscroft @biophiliac God I wish there was a 911 number i could call this is horrible

 

[Steven Mazzo]

I barely touched one of the two pip circles which are well within the area of the air sack and small circle of shell came off the size of a pencil eraser. There is a white almost stiff paper like membrane behind it. When I candle it you can clearly see the membrane we are concerned with that houses all the veins we are all afraid of and this is not the same thing it must be a different type of membrane

 

[Steven Mazzo]

this might give you an idea of the process in an emergency. But I would always rely on advice from this site before Youtube!! We all hope it hatches by itself and you don't need to help

i just played your video for my egg and it began chirping so loud omg

 

[Ravynscroft]

There are 2 sets of membranes, one is the outer one that lines the inside of the shell, the other is the inner one that encases the duckling and has the veins running along it... yawning, opening and closing the bill means it is still absorbing the yolk, not stuck...

 

[Steven Mazzo]

There are 2 sets of membranes, one is the outer one that lines the inside of the shell, the other is the inner one that encases the duckling and has the veins running along it... yawning, opening and closing the bill means it is still absorbing the yolk, not stuck...

thank god you are there. Thank you. It just looks like there is so much open empty space and its wiggling around trying to get out. I know I just need to walk away from it. this is so hard to do