June Hatch A Long

[CluckNDoodle]

Please help, guys !!! My duckling has been taking his sweet time hatching, & finally has a little hole in the air cell, but there is a layer of something on top of him, kinda...I'm thinking the membrane ? It looks a bit thick, & it's like a light brownish ? I can see his little bill clearly, & he's moving & chirping. Do I do anything to help ? Is that layer normal, or will he suffocate ? I'm so scared right now ! He first pipped externally something VERY early yesterday morning while I was sleeping, then made the larger hole today. Do I do something or just leave him be ?

It sounds to me like it could be a sticky chick. It can happen from elevated humidity during incubation. Were your humidity levels especially high in the first 18 days?
As long as the fluid doesn't obstruct breathing it should be ok but the issue you may run into is that the chick may need assistance hatching if it's too sticky and can't rotate properly. Have you assisted hatches before?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Please help, guys !!! My duckling has been taking his sweet time hatching, & finally has a little hole in the air cell, but there is a layer of something on top of him, kinda...I'm thinking the membrane ? It looks a bit thick, & it's like a light brownish ? I can see his little bill clearly, & he's moving & chirping. Do I do anything to help ? Is that layer normal, or will he suffocate ? I'm so scared right now ! He first pipped externally something VERY early yesterday morning while I was sleeping, then made the larger hole today. Do I do something or just leave him be ?

Then again if the layer you're referring to is dry looking and not wet then you could just be looking at the membrane and it has started to darken from drying out. Are you able to get a picture without opening the incubator?

 

[HolyDuckBatman]

Thank you so much for replying ! No, I never have done this, nor did I plan to...my hen abandoned the eggs about a week ago, close to it, & I had to set up a DIY incubator. Should I just keep a close eye on him for now ?

 

[HolyDuckBatman]

I wouldn't be able to get a pic without taking him out, sorry ! Is the drying membrane normal ? From what I can see, nothing seems stuck to him....

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Thank you so much for replying ! No, I never have done this, nor did I plan to...my hen abandoned the eggs about a week ago, close to it, & I had to set up a DIY incubator. Should I just keep a close eye on him for now ?

I wouldn't be able to get a pic without taking him out, sorry ! Is the drying membrane normal ? From what I can see, nothing seems stuck to him....

Ok! Well as long as the chick is breathing it's ok! It likely just needs time then. You said your set up is DIY, do you have a way to monitor the humidity? The membrane doesn't usually darken unless it's starting to dry out a bit. I'll get a link for you to assisted hatching. You may need to use coconut oil to moisten the membrane if it looks especially dry. Just a sec and I'll get it.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

@HolyDuckBatman
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[HolyDuckBatman]

Ok! Well as long as the chick is breathing it's ok! It likely just needs time then. You said your set up is DIY, do you have a way to monitor the humidity? The membrane doesn't usually darken unless it's starting to dry out a bit. I'll get a link for you to assisted hatching. You may need to use coconut oil to moisten the membrane if it looks especially dry. Just a sec and I'll get it.

Great, I have tons of coconut oil !! Thank you so much for your help, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it, I was devastated for a minute there. I have no way to check the humidity but another helpful poster recently told me to place damp sponges near, so I've been doing that, along with bowls of water near. I haven't spritzed this one, since the pip.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Great, I have tons of coconut oil !! Thank you so much for your help, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it, I was devastated for a minute there. I have no way to check the humidity but another helpful poster recently told me to place damp sponges near, so I've been doing that, along with bowls of water near. I haven't spritzed this one, since the pip.

It's no problem! We've all been there! I would just take the time to read through that link, it's very helpful to know even if you don't need to use it so that you feel more comfortable with what you're seeing. If you do end up using the coconut oil just be careful not to get any on the nostrils so it can breathe easily.
I hope the rest of your hatch goes well!

 

[HolyDuckBatman]

It's no problem! We've all been there! I would just take the time to read through that link, it's very helpful to know even if you don't need to use it so that you feel more comfortable with what you're seeing. If you do end up using the coconut oil just be careful not to get any on the nostrils so it can breathe easily.
I hope the rest of your hatch goes well!

Thank you so much, I am reading through it now & it is already so helpful, because now I know to leave him be for now, because he's still making the yawning motions at times, so I guess he's absorbing the yolk. He's chatting away in there, off & on, so it's good to know he's okay. Thank you again so much

 

[Bookworm0124]

Update, still just one right now but might have another soon. First one isn't really fluffing up, she's sorta crusty looking. But boy oh boy is she loud lol. Everytime I go in to peek she wobbles over and peeps. She's sleeping right now so it's a little quieter. Keeping her in the incubator over night so that when I put them with the other ducklings tomorrow I can monitor because they're a week or so older.