Is It Dead? Should I C Section It?? Do I Leave It?? Sad Update Post 5#

[The Wolf Queen]

I have 2 scovy eggs due Tuesday or Wednesday (first scovy hatch ever

)and since they are under broodies Ive been keeping a close eye on them. Yesterday one quit moving and still hasn't moved today either. Not after I tapped the egg or turned it upside down. Now about 30 minutes ago it looks like, what I'm guessing is the bill, has developed some sort of air bubble and is slowly expanding even though it is internally pipped. I'm really freaking out and do not know if it is dead or not. What the heck should I do???????

Here are some pics and I tryed to outline the air bubble thing.

 

[suzettex5]

Thats a tough one... Heres a bump- maybe someone can help.

Good pics though and GOOD LUCK!!!!!

 

[duckluck]

I'm by no means an expert yet, but by the pictures it looks to me like the duckling's bill has internally pipped and is casting a shadow, which moves as it does trying to pip the shell or find its way around inside the air cell. Me personally, if it was me in doubt, I'd break an air hole in the shell to see what is going on and also to provide it with oxygen, and swab any exposed membrane with sterile water for additional moisture before putting it back into the hatcher. IMO, if it's having a serious problem, there's not much to be done unless you open the shell or sit and wait, in which case you might be disappointed. I guess it boils down to if you subscribe to the Help or Don't Help school of thought.

 

[The Wolf Queen]

How big should I make the air hole and I dont think its a shadow because the other egg which wont stop moving doesnt look at all like that + the one I think is dead hasnt moved an inch and I dont think I can even see veins anymore (look at pic 2 for reference) where as I can still see several in the other egg. Do you think it would hurt if I poke a hole the size of a small nail (the kind you use in building stuff not a finger nail) into the air cell and leave it under my broody or do you think her weight would crack it open all the way and squash it?

ETA: If I poke a hole should I move the egg into my bator?

 

[The Wolf Queen]

Well I opened it up and at the top of the egg and there is now an almost dime sized hole. It looks like a fully developed baby but it didn't move or make a sound and the membrane appeared too dry(shrink wrapped?)...I think. But just in case I put it in a section of egg carton in my bator next to a wet sponge. I highly doubt its alive but you never know. I guess I will keep it in there for a day or 2 or until it starts to stink but I'm pretty sure its gone

. So now I'm sad because its brother or sister will be alone till its younger brothers and sisters hatch next Monday or Tuesday. I guess ill just give the poor thing a stuffed animal for companionship.

 

[duckluck]

If it looks dead already, take a sterilized small tool...I'd use an eyeglasses screwdriver, because it is small, blunt but can also tear with the pointed corners...and puncture the membrane, somewhere where it looks dry and papery and you can't see veins. You may still hit a vein but try your best not to...you need to get that membrane back enough to see if the duckling is alive and if so, provide it with air. If it is alive, swab that membrane with sterile water and repost to let us know what happened, and maybe I can tell you how to proceed.

Oh yeah, and if it's alive and breathing, put it into the incubator with your humidity run up about 70%-75%, just before you start to see condensation. You want to NOT dry out that membrane until this duckling sucks in its yolk.

Sorry I saw this this late!

 

[The Wolf Queen]

Dont worry about it. Well I lost both of them

. The one that wouldnt quit kicking died yesterday so I opened both eggs and the 2nd was do today or tommorow. Im guessing that the membranes got too too dry (my hens are slacking) and or they ran out of air because they pipped early. So now im extremely sad and need hug. I think the 1rst one was a lilac male and the 2nd a blue femalle just because of size difference. Well I still have 8 due next Monday and 2 more due the 17th. Lets hope for healty hatches on those and I will no longer be trusting my broodies with duck eggs during lockdown.

 

[lovesduckies]

i'm sorry

 

[Cerelia]

I am so sorry, WQ. Giant hugs!

 

[BeckyBird]

I'm sorry

I've lost babies before too, and it is never easy. I wish they could all hatch, and dying so late in the shell is just the worst. Hopefully you will have some great new hatches this week.