Muscovy egg hatching help!

[Whitney123]

My muscovy hen hatched 11 ducklings yesterday. This morning she had left the nest with them and left this egg behind. It had pipped and its beak was moving. I'm warming it up with a heating pad and I moistened the membrane and chipped back the shell. It started to look a bit pink so I stopped. I don't have an incubator. My thermometer is reading 101°. Am I doing this right so far? Any advice??

 

[BelovedBirds]

My muscovy hen hatched 11 ducklings yesterday. This morning she had left the nest with them and left this egg behind. It had pipped and its beak was moving. I'm warming it up with a heating pad and I moistened the membrane and chipped back the shell. It started to look a bit pink so I stopped. I don't have an incubator. My thermometer is reading 101°. Am I doing this right so far? Any advice??

Good job noticing and saving this little one!
its a little warm, can you bring it down to about 99°?
Do you have any idea how long the baby has been externally pipped for? Are they making yawning or chewing motions with their beak at all? This would indicate that they are still absorbing yolk and arent ready to hatch.

if you have some, put a little coconut oil on the exposed membrane, every couple hours at least, more often if possible. Its important it doesnt dry out.
I expect baby will be able to complete hatch on their own, within the next few hours. It can be slow, dont rush them.

 

[Whitney123]

Thank you! Yes I'll try to lower it. Kinda tricky with a heating pad. It is yawning so that's good to know that's what that means. I used olive oil to moisten it earlier. I'll keep it moist like you said. I have no idea how long it was pipped because we just left her be. I'm so glad I checked when I did. It's 39° in the barn today!

 

[BelovedBirds]

Thank you! Yes I'll try to lower it. Kinda tricky with a heating pad. It is yawning so that's good to know that's what that means. I used olive oil to moisten it earlier. I'll keep it moist like you said. I have no idea how long it was pipped because we just left her be. I'm so glad I checked when I did. It's 39° in the barn today!

Very lucky little one!
Fingers crossed he completes hatch soon
Be sure to update!

 

[Whitney123]

The baby hatched! Is this brown lump normal?

 

[BelovedBirds]

The baby hatched! Is this brown lump normal?

Nothing to worry about I think. Thats just hatching debris, you're sometimes left with a bit of a mess. His naval looks okay, still open but that will close very soon on its own, thats normal.
The gooey messy stuff will dry up, and the cord still attached to it should turn brown, dry up and break off on its own. Just place baby in a small space so he doesnt run around too much and risk pulling on the cord.

Once he's dried up, and the cord has broken off, are you planning on putting him with his mama and siblings?

 

[BelovedBirds]

The baby hatched! Is this brown lump normal?

Adorable baby btw, congrats!

 

[Whitney123]

Nothing to worry about I think. Thats just hatching debris, you're sometimes left with a bit of a mess. His naval looks okay, still open but that will close very soon on its own, thats normal.
The gooey messy stuff will dry up, and the cord still attached to it should turn brown, dry up and break off on its own. Just place baby in a small space so he doesnt run around too much and risk pulling on the cord.

Once he's dried up, and the cord has broken off, are you planning on putting him with his mama and siblings?

Yes I was going to put him back with the others once he's up and moving. He's still laying around and sleeping a lot. I improvised a mama heating pad cave. I do have a heat plate but it's large and seems way too big for one little guy but it may be safer if he's going to be inside for very long.

 

[Whitney123]

Adorable baby btw, congrats!

Thank you! I'm so glad I could save him!

 

[BelovedBirds]

Yes I was going to put him back with the others once he's up and moving. He's still laying around and sleeping a lot. I improvised a mama heating pad cave. I do have a heat plate but it's large and seems way too big for one little guy but it may be safer if he's going to be inside for very long.

This is a good improvise! The heating plate would also be fine, easier to ensure a safe temp I'm sure. Make sure he cant escape that box though, if he gets his energy up and tries to climb on top of the cave!
Being sleepy is normal right now. Good job again saving him!

Be sure to check his tummy and ensure the naval is closed before returning to mum. Could be a few hours, maybe overnight. Not too long. Its just important that his tummy doesnt get dirty right now.