Pip at wrong end

[Lil wry]

My duck eggs began externally pipping yesterday. This morning one of the larger eggs has an external pip at the wrong end.. What do I do? New to all this.

 

[Duckduckchicken32]

What time did he pip? I had two that pipped at the wrong end and they both made it, but one was stuck so I had to help. If he is not making progress in 30 hours, I would step in.

 

[Lil wry]

Sometime between 10pm est yesterday and 6am today. Do I follow the regular timing rules and do nothing for 24 hours post pip?

 

[Duckduckchicken32]

It depends on each egg. You might have to step in sooner if he is not doing anything. You also don’t want to step in to soon, as he might still be absorbing his yolk sack. Chewing also means he is still absorbing.

 

[Lil wry]

What is chewing? I don't want to mess this up. Everyone else to far has pipped on the big end. How long without progress should I wait? Do I need to pull the egg and candle it?

 

[Duckduckchicken32]

Their beak looks like it’s eating something, but it’s not. you could very quickly candle the egg, but it is not really necessary. I would wait 24 hours without progress. Maybe chip a small bit of shell away where he pipped so he can stick his beak out. In normally pipped eggs, they pip into the air sack, and then the declining oxygen levels force them to pip. Since he missed the air sack, you will want to make sure that he can breath.

 

[Lil wry]

Pulled a small piece of shell and the little immediately started trying to push its bill out. I didn't pull or pierce the white membrane, it already had made a pinhole. Should I have opened it more?

 

[Duckduckchicken32]

Great! The membrane is easy to push open as long as it’s moist, so the duckling can do that! If you pull on the membrane too much, it can potentially pull a vessel and bleed out.

 

[Lil wry]

Thank you so much

 

[Duckduckchicken32]

You’re welcome! Keep us updated!