Is this duckling shrink wrapped?

[HeatherKellyB]

I don't decrease my incubator temp during hatch at all at any time. The only thing I change in preparation for hatch is the humidity and of course I stop/remove turner and I place something under the eggs to ensure the hatchlings don't end up slipping and injuring themselves.

Ducks take a lot longer to hatch than chickens, so even with an internal pip, it could still be days before they hatch

 

[Apartmentduck]

Thank you so much for all your kind words and reassurance. This is my first incubator clutch so I’m so nervous! I’ve read so many articles and videos yet it didn’t help the anxiety I feel in this moment. I’ve even watched several videos on how to assist If the time comes but before I do I’ll at least wait till their official hatch day. I’m just so nervous they will die.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Thank you so much for all your kind words and reassurance. This is my first incubator clutch so I’m so nervous! I’ve read so many articles and videos yet it didn’t help the anxiety I feel in this moment. I’ve even watched several videos on how to assist If the time comes but before I do I’ll at least wait till their official hatch day. I’m just so nervous they will die.

You're welcome! I've been exactly where you are and it wasn't that long ago. I have fallen in love with Call Ducks and they're notoriously difficult to hatch because they have very short necks and bills. I've hatched many chickens but that was my first time with ducks. With the help of some amazing folks here, I hatched 4 adorable call ducks not very long ago. I've got Aztec Duck eggs that are almost ready to hatch now. They've all pipped internally and have safety holes. This breed is half Call Ducks so I'm anticipating them needing assistance but hopefully they'll do fine on their own. I am still very nervous but sometimes they don't make it in spite of our best efforts. That's heartbreaking so I can relate. We're doing the best we can and that's all we can do. You've got this! Try to sit back and relax (yes I know that's much easier said than done) let them finish everything they need to do before hatching and just be prepared in the chance they need assistance. I'd like to share the best article I've read about assisting. I've read this article so many times and will continue to read it before every hatch and again before I do any assisting.

Guide to Assisted Hatching for All Poultry

There are so many here that will be happy to help or answer any questions that may come up. Feel free to ask. I can't wait to see pictures of your little ducklings!!!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I did lose one of the Call Ducklings during the hatch unfortunately. I still feel horrible about it because I was assisting. I'm not sure exactly what happened to cause it's death but the other ducklings kept my attention which helped a lot. Sometimes we lose one or however many but we have to keep our thoughts clear to do whatever is needed (waiting it out, assisting, etc) to help the others. I'm wishing you the best with this hatch. I love KC's!!!

 

[Apartmentduck]

It's almost 2am here, so I'm going to check for any other external pips in my eggs or anything that needs addressing. It's Day 26 now for my eggs, which is hatch day for Calls (Aztec are made from Calls and Mallards).

I've also got to go outside to get one of my cockerel off the roost to check his toe that I noticed looking odd.

I'll check back before going to bed in case there is anything I can help with

Its great that we both have babies hatching at the same time! It’s only 11 for me here. I have been over that article a few times but I’m really nervous about opening the bruise on one because it didn’t happen in the air cell. These eggs are all shipped eggs so I have some strange air cells for sure.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@FunnyfarmMidwest had an egg that tried to pip on the wrong end like this resulting in a bruise. I'm not sure if she found the bruise too late or not. She has experienced this though

@MGG has helped me get through many obstacles in hatching

Pyxis wrote the article and will know what to do. She and casportpony worked together on this I believe (at least she provided a lot of the pictures) and both of these ladies are incredibly busy and not available to reply often but maybe they'll have a moment to reply about this "early pip on the wrong end for a KC that resulted in a bruise"

Edited to remove tags since this awesome OP has already taken care of it

 

[MotherDucker3]

Update? Do you have some ducklings!?

 

[Apartmentduck]

I do not I opened another bruise bruise earlier this morning so I got 3 little beaks waving but no progress so I’m worried about shrink wrapping

@Apartmentduck how's everything going this morning?

I replied but by accident I didn’t reply directly to you. Sorry about that!

 

[Apartmentduck]

Update? Do you have some ducklings!?

Not yet! But I can see there little beaks which is so cute!

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

@FunnyfarmMidwest had an egg that tried to pip on the wrong end like this resulting in a bruise. I'm not sure if she found the bruise too late or not. She has experienced this though

@MGG has helped me get through many obstacles in hatching

Pyxis wrote the article and will know what to do. She and casportpony worked together on this I believe (at least she provided a lot of the pictures) and both of these ladies are incredibly busy and not available to reply often but maybe they'll have a moment to reply about this "early pip on the wrong end for a KC that resulted in a bruise"

Edited to remove tags since this awesome OP has already taken care of it

Thanks for the tag! So sorry I didn’t see a notification for this tag or I would have responded earlier. Yes I have experienced malpositioned ducklings many times. If I find a bruise on one of my eggs I always open the area over the bruise and make sure the duckling’s bill is exposed. I use a small drill bit and do a small hole (in the same manner as a safety hole) then I gently pick the shell away with some tweezers. I always refer to the article that Heather linked above. After I do this, I wait a while before assisting. I’ve noticed that my malpositioned ducklings have taken longer to absorb everything. Their internal pip and external pip occur at the same time so they need a bit more time than others.

edit: OP I see that you made a hole and got the duckling air! Great job! Hope you have a great hatch!

here was one of mine: