Mallard duck day 30 of incubation.

[Soontobeduckmom]

Hi everyone! I am in need of immediate assistance. I rescued a mallard duck egg that she had kicked out of the nest and cracked. I put wax over the crack and started incubating it just in case he was still alive. Well, we are on day 30 and he’s moving, etc. I believe he may have pipped internally yesterday morning. There is a lot of movement going on at the bottom of the air sac and there is bruising on the bottom of the egg. I am scared that he may suffocate at this point because I don’t hear tapping or anything else. Do you think I should cut a small hole at the top of the air thing so I can see if he’s able to get out and blood and yolk has been absorbed? I believe incubation was delayed because temperature changes, etc. I know not to cut through the membrane. I have researched for hours and hours and I still feel inept to make a decision at this point.

 

[DucksAreBest]

Hi everyone! I am in need of immediate assistance. I rescued a mallard duck egg that she had kicked out of the nest and cracked. I put wax over the crack and started incubating it just in case he was still alive. Well, we are on day 30 and he’s moving, etc. I believe he may have pipped internally yesterday morning. There is a lot of movement going on at the bottom of the air sac and there is bruising on the bottom of the egg. I am scared that he may suffocate at this point because I don’t hear tapping or anything else. Do you think I should cut a small hole at the top of the air thing so I can see if he’s able to get out and blood and yolk has been absorbed? I believe incubation was delayed because temperature changes, etc. I know not to cut through the membrane. I have researched for hours and hours and I still feel inept to make a decision at this point.

I would wait a little more. @MGG what do you think?

 

[Soontobeduckmom]

I would wait a little more. @MGG what do you think?

Thank you. I’m trying to be patient, but it’s hard when he’s a bit overdue. Do you think he pipped internally or would I be able to see his beak more clearly inside the air cell? My big concern is that he is not positioned correctly and went in from the bottom and is unable to get through properly.

 

[DucksAreBest]

Thank you. I’m trying to be patient, but it’s hard when he’s a bit overdue. Do you think he pipped internally or would I be able to see his beak more clearly inside the air cell? My big concern is that he is not positioned correctly and went in from the bottom and is unable to get through properly.

Do you know when he internally pipped?

 

[Soontobeduckmom]

Do you know when he internally pipped?

I checked yesterday morning at 10 AM and it looked like I could see his beak on the very bottom. Literally just passed the air cell border. I looked again about an hour ago and I see movement down there and it definitely looks like he has just broken the very edge of the air cell.

I honestly cannot believe he has survived through all this. He must be very tough. I was waking up every two hours to turn the heating pad back on for the first week! I can’t imagine the heat was consistent at all. Lol He’s a TROOPER!

 

[DucksAreBest]

I checked yesterday morning at 10 AM and it looked like I could see his beak on the very bottom. Literally just passed the air cell border. I looked again about an hour ago and I see movement down there and it definitely looks like he has just broken the very edge of the air cell.

I honestly cannot believe he has survived through all this. He must be very tough. I was waking up every two hours to turn the heating pad back on for the first week! I can’t imagine the heat was consistent at all. Lol He’s a TROOPER!

Wow! I would try making a 'Safety Hole". Here is a GREAT article on how to do it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[Soontobeduckmom]

T

Wow! I would try making a 'Safety Hole". Here is a GREAT article on how to do it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[DucksAreBest]

T

Thank you so much for your help!

No, problem!

 

[Soontobeduckmom]

I opened him up when I no longer saw movement when I candled him. He died. I believe he suffocated and I’m so angry with myself for not opening him up earlier and listening to my gut. I kept seeing, “wait, wait, wait” and I did and now he’s dead.

 

[Soontobeduckmom]

“Chip”