internally pipped but not externally, when should i help to hatch?

[Miss Lydia]

Hey if it works lol sorry had to laugh!

 

[Kiki]

Hey if it works lol sorry had to laugh!

I can't help but laugh at myself too.

 

[WVduckchick]

First off, calls are a bit different to hatch than other ducks. Especially if the parents were very “typey” meaning short bills and short necks. Larger ones usually do fine on their own, but some call ducks need more assistance once they internally or externally pip. I have an assortment of calls, and still almost all of mine need assistance. I have had maybe 2 hatch unassisted out of hundreds, although my broody ducks have fabulous hatches on their own. (I’ve actually seen them assisting hatches too)

It is a very hard decision on when to help. I usually use the 24-hour rule from internal pip, then a very small safe hole, then if further assistance is needed, it may be a whole day or two process. Slow and steady. A little at a time. Too soon will kill them, too slow they can give up and die. So it takes a good intuition on how to proceed. The biggest tip I can give is free the beak and the right eyeball (if the duckling is in proper position), make sure it can breathe, then take your time and don’t rush it.
They can sit like this for a whole day while finishing absorbing yolk.
Notice the tiny safe holes in the front left and right eggs.

 

[5fathens]

Hi, thanks,
i managed to make air holes last night but was too late, am now thinking that another may be internally pipped but i can't hear any noise and as a silouette it just looks like 3/4 of the shell is full, as in the air sack line is no longer straight across from side to side and the image is kind of wobbly....internally pipped so ok to air hole?
it's not moving as much as it was....should i intervene now??
@WVduckchick
thanks

 

[WVduckchick]

The air cell will get out of shape. We call that draw down. Usually they internally pip shortly after they draw down fully, like within 12-24 hours.

I would note the time that you notice this wobbly look, and assume it’s an internal pip. Then when it’s closer to 24 hours later, you should be able to tell for sure if it actually broke the membrane. Shine the light from every direction along the rim of the air cell looking for a shadow opposite the light. I don’t always hear them peep. Tap the shell with your fingernail and hold close to your cheek. You may feel movement or hear tapping, even if it doesn’t make a peeping sound.

 

[5fathens]

thanks for all that advice , unfortunately our time has been elsewhere this morning as our little one that had hatched quite happily, went a bit funny and then just died
really hoping my boys said goodbye to her this morning!

don't think other one is moving now either oh my word this is so stressful,

i am now remembering why i didn't try again after our last attempt, although we did get 7 ducklings that time with only one needing help and dying a few days later.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am so sorry about the duckling. Are you thinking the other one has died?

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh I’m so sorry. They can be a challenge.
Do you have more eggs left in the incubator?

 

[5fathens]

Hi,
thanks for your messages, yes i still have two in the incubator, they are now both wobbly but don't look like they've internally pipped yet, i will go and try to listen to them now.....

just had them both out, both still moving in a wobbly fashion, couldn't hear taps or see a definite shape other than fluttery wobbles at the bottom of the shell.....but they have changed shape a little bit, just no clear indication of internal pip, these two were the last to be rescued from the abandoned duck nest so i'm not surprised they're behind the others....

sounds a little morbid but i did practice doing a n air hole in the ones i thought were already gone, just in case i need to do it on a live one....

any thoughts on what to do next or if i should just wait now and keep checking on them?
thanks

 

[WVduckchick]

Yep, its just a waiting game now. The change in the air cell shape is a good sign that they are still progressing.

And you can practice safe holes on eggs you plan to eat too. If you just poke the air cell, it won't ruin it from eating it later. (unless you crush it, of course lol)

Different people use different things. My usual thing is a tiny pair of scissors (sewing nippers), I scratch the shell until I can almost feel it going through, then I use a straight pin to pierce the membrane and pick a piece of membrane out of the hole.

I also have a Dremel tool with some small bits, one is a cone shaped diamond tipped bit. I don't use the Dremel too, but just spin the bit back and forth between my fingers to drill a small hole.
I think some people use a thumb tack, if you can tell that the beak is far enough away.
Experiment and find what works best for you.