Mallard duck eggs ready to hatch! Piping! Should I help out?

[bakingbluesfan]

Hello all

I have some Mallard ducks eggs in my incubator that just started "piping" today. Should I help them out? I read that Mallards sometimes have a difficult time hatching out. How long should I let them go without interfering if at all? As you can tell this is my first time with duck eggs. I have only hatched chickens and quail. Any advice that you can give to this duck-hatching newbie would be greatly appreciated! They have been incubating for 23 days. Thanks!

 

[carinlynchin]

Wow 23 days...I think mine were like 28 or 30 days...I went through many eggs before I got it right. I was candling too much and handling them too much...but the last ones I left alone and they made it to hatch time. They honestly hatched out fine....it takes time though...The second one i helped out because I thought he was stuck (the first hatched before I got home) and was taking longer...(not much longer though) and it turned out he hadn't absorbed all his yolk and I researched and put olive oil on the end of his "belly button" to keep it moist (this is a few years ago so I am trying to remember as best as possible).

I can't remember if he made it ...but he was the only one that had trouble and it was because I helped him. I'd say leave them alone....I think I've read that it can take a couple days between pipping and actually hatching...but don't take my word on it...but try to avoid helping if you can unless it goes by a certain amount of time --- you'd have to get that time from someone else 'cause I am not sure about that.

 

[farmertank]

Well this is a much different hatching than quail lol they are like popcorn.

I would wait at least 24 hours till you worry. You don't want to mess with your humidity by opening the 'bator Ducks tend to rest alot and take there sweet time. as long as you can see the egg moving or hear the peeing every little while I wouldn't worry. I have found(much to my dismay) that if the start piping during the day they usually hatch when your sleeping lol

good luck and please keep us posted also I expect pics.

 

[bakingbluesfan]

Hi everyone !

Thanks so much for the advice, and so quickly! Honestly this has made me a nervous wreck. I keep looking in on them. I now have 4 out of the six that are piping! One has actually broken through, the hole is about the size of a dime. It is so hard to not help them out! I would hate to have them die now knowing that it was because they just needed a nudge and I wasn't there for them! I will definetly keep you all posted. Thanks for the support!

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Could you possibly mean call ducks. 23 days for mallard ducklings is very very early. Mallards are easy to hatch, call ducks are hard to. Could you possibly mean mallard colored call ducks (gray calls)?

 

[Fay at Frizzled Feathers]

Hmmmm deffinately early for mallards to hatch . Once they pip it could take them 24 to 36 hours to hatch i beleive if i remember that correctly. I would not help them out , its way better if they get themself out of the shell , they will work a while and rest awhile its normal. The ones that don't get out themselves are usually cause something was wrong with them i learned in my experience unless incubator was opened while there was a pip then its can dry out and make it impossible for them to get out .
My advise would be just be patient although i know thats hard at this stage LOL

 

[Ducklove334]

it's not too early, Mallards only take 26 days, so I don't think 23 days is early, especially when it can take them up to 24 hours to completly hatch

 

[bakingbluesfan]

Hi everyone!

I have a duck! One is completely out!Cute but slimy! I hope that they truly are mallards. They eggs are blue, what color are call duck eggs? Anyway I hope the others do well. Thanks again to everyone for their help. I don't think I would have made it through the delivery wtihout you!(he-he). I'll keep you up to date

LOL

 

[poultrykeeper08]

Congrads on the new duckling !

Mallard eggs have a greenish/blue tint .

I know its so hard not to help . But as i was always told its better to not help them . Even thought i have helped a few and they have lived fine and healthy

 

[muscovy94]

PLEASE DON'T FORGET THE PICS!!!!!