pekin ducks hatching now...is this one stuck

[Greenacres1]

i am hatching my first Pekins from my own male and female. We are on day 28. One had pipped 2 days ago and this morning I thought was starting to zip. Well, he managed to create a good size hole (about an inch long) and has his beak out. But that's it. It doesn't look like he's turning or trying to zip and just keeps pushing his beak out. I was wondering if/when I should step in. I'm afraid to open the incubator to disrupt temp and humidity of the other pips.
Thanks

 

[Marty1876]

i am hatching my first Pekins from my own male and female. We are on day 28. One had pipped 2 days ago and this morning I thought was starting to zip. Well, he managed to create a good size hole (about an inch long) and has his beak out. But that's it. It doesn't look like he's turning or trying to zip and just keeps pushing his beak out. I was wondering if/when I should step in. I'm afraid to open the incubator to disrupt temp and humidity of the other pips.
Thanks

It is not unusual for the little things to take three days, so as long as he makes any progress, and is alive and verbal, just keep your humidity up and wait. I'll keep checking back, so if you do run into trouble, I'll talk you through. I hatch ducks all the time, and quite a few of everything else, so don't worry, your baby can make it still with no trouble. Once you intervene, you are commited to a full service hatch, and that is not idea.

Babies stop and wait, becasue they have to absorb all of the yolk sac before they proceed. If they go too fast, it will likely be fatel. Baby knows where it is, and is just waiting around. Be patient, and I'll check back this evening.

 

[Greenacres1]

Thanks this is so nerve wracking! My back hurts from staring at him. He did make a little progress about 2 hours or so. He put his beak back in and turned a little to make the hole longer...so hopefully he's up to do that again soon

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks this is so nerve wracking! My back hurts from staring at him. He did make a little progress about 2 hours or so. He put his beak back in and turned a little to make the hole longer...so hopefully he's up to do that again soon

patience is a virtue most of us lack but is very important in hatching!.. your in good hands with Marty

 

[Marty1876]

Thanks this is so nerve wracking! My back hurts from staring at him. He did make a little progress about 2 hours or so. He put his beak back in and turned a little to make the hole longer...so hopefully he's up to do that again soon

He sounds like he's doing great. Whats happenig is that as he moves, he absorbs the yolk faster, but its desgined to only go so fast. As it absorbs, he can turn a bit better, and keep after it. Some ducks just wait until its absorbed and go like mad, othres take the whole 72 hours from ext. pip to actual hatch. If he moves or sqeeks, hes good. As he gets more yolk absorbed, he'll start squeeking much louder.

Yes, it is soooo hard to be patient. Why don't you just only go look every 2 hours, until you see him really getting busy. His squeeks don't mean he needs your help, they mean he's getting stronger, and this is his chance to let mama duck (or you) know that he's well and healthy and coming along soon.

Just keep breathing, he'll get here soon! Just don't interfere, or he'll cease work, and our hatching them out kills them as often as it helps. Maybe more. It takes a lot of experience to kjnow how to help, and when to help. If he's not here in the next 36 hours, I'll want a pic so I can talk you through a slow drawn out assisted hatch. (Its much slower than natural hatching if done well)

 

[Greenacres1]

Well, when I got up this morning, there was no change. He was still breathing and moving but made zero progress. Before I left for work, I went to check again and he moved his beak closer to the edge of his hole he made and was starting to pull it back in, so I am assuming he is going to turn again, since that's what he did the 16 hours beforehand. Kind of glad I won't be home until 5 today, so I can actually get stuff done!

 

[Marty1876]

Well, when I got up this morning, there was no change. He was still breathing and moving but made zero progress. Before I left for work, I went to check again and he moved his beak closer to the edge of his hole he made and was starting to pull it back in, so I am assuming he is going to turn again, since that's what he did the 16 hours beforehand. Kind of glad I won't be home until 5 today, so I can actually get stuff done!

Hows things? If no more progress, can you snap a pic and post it? It maybe time to start minor assistance. If he's done anything to progress, more waiting. But thats good.

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[Greenacres1]

Made progress today It's about 1/2 way around the egg with a hole and a little cracked further along. I'll try to get a pic up...I'm on my phone, and can't load one up it seems from this. Thanks

 

[Marty1876]

Made progress today It's about 1/2 way around the egg with a hole and a little cracked further along. I'll try to get a pic up...I'm on my phone, and can't load one up it seems from this. Thanks

from my phone I send to my email, then download to my pics, then upload from here (let me know if you need help)

No need to interfere, he's gonna be out in the next 12 almost certainly. Anytime between half and all the way, thay start pushing with their feet, and break the shell into half, and crawl out. They quack a lot, and after a bit dry off. When they start walking around, you can move it to a brooder with a non-slip surface. (Prevents splay leg) No newspaper. Old towels are good, and so are wood pellets (they really help w/duck odor), and etc.