Mallards finally hatched but something not right

[msbackwoods]

We took the advice on forum and did the floating test Friday evening, several looked promising even though it was day 29. On Saturday, we began to see some pipping and wrapped eggs in a warm damped papertowel. Out of 5 eggs we have 2 healthy babies. The others, 1 appeared to be all wrapped up and just couldn't make it, the others are very weak. They are alive but still in the "exhausted" mode as if they just broke out. When I look thru picture window with flashlight it appears there is a difference in the egg shell area. Where the others was a gooey dried looking substance, these have very yellow almost yolk looking blob with veins. My first instinct was that it looked like something that should be inside the duck rather than outside. It appears to be coming from the rear area but hard to tell. I do not expect them to make it but would be interested if anyone else has had this same issue and what may have been the cause.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Are the ducklings actually hatched yet? Im trying to work out if you are describing a wet membrane- or an unabsorbed yolk sac. It sounds like you are saying that they are hatched and have some unabsorbed yolk. Letting them rest quietly is the best thing, keep them in the incubator rather than a brooder- but be careful to not let them move around much or let the sac get stuck on anything as it can rupture easily which will greatly increase the risk of the duckling getting an infection.

 

[msbackwoods]

They are hatched, actually out of shell except for their bottoms. I guess it could be the yolk, we'll give them today and see if they do anything further.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I've had this happen with chickens. Take out your "active" ones and leave the others in the incubator for a while. Make sure it's not too hot. It does sound like unabsorbed yolk, which should remedy itself over the next day.

 

[The Duck ABC's]

Leave them in the incubator for another 24 hours. Mix one some vitamins/minerals/electrolytes with a little bit of sugar in water and give each one beak full so swallow. This will help them to gain strength. Resting is all they need. Do not force the egg shell off their bodies. It will fall off when ready. They are still absorbing the yolk which can take a day or so.