Please help. Did my embryo die?

[Ravynscroft]

Walnut explained that all really well!!

Mary, I assist quite frequently since Calls have much shorter necks and bills than other ducks... I currently have over a hundred and almost all of them were assisted...

Is this your only egg in the bator?

 

[Mary Coleman]

Yes he's my only one. I got home and moved the incubator a bit and it started peeling a lot. He's just pushing upwards with his beak. If I'm to help him out, how should I do it?

 

[Mary Coleman]

He's peeping a lot and he Does not sound happy. The egg isn't moving at all though. Just his bill and his sad sounding peeps. He's doing a lot of that yawning that you were referring to.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Sounds like he's not quite ready yet... just sad sounding peeps? Not weak, right?

 

[Mary Coleman]

Some of them were loud and shrill and some were kind of soft and quiet. He's switching from soft peeps loud ones. Right now he made a really loud one that sounded painful just listening to it. What does a weak one sound like?

 

[Ravynscroft]

Weak peeps would be getting progressively quiter and softer... so shrill and loud alternating with soft peeps is really good!!

 

[Mary Coleman]

OH good. I just realized that there's a brown paper looking membrane that's shrinked down from off the top of the egg to where about his beak meats his head. In think this might be bad.

 

[WalnutHill]

It sounds like he's getting closer. Just tap on the incubator, no reason to open at this time. Keep interacting with him when he's awake, but when he's asleep, let him nap. He needs his strength.

Next step he SHOULD start working sideways. I fear that he's a bit stuck and may not be able to rotate, but if he is still doing that pant/gasp he still needs a little more time. I wish I had a video of a ready chicks and poults that I could share. Like knowing when a tomato is ripe, you learn the signs.

 

[WalnutHill]

OH good. I just realized that there's a brown paper looking membrane that's shrinked down to where about his beak meats his head. In think this might be bad.

Agreed, I think he can be declared stuck. Those yellow crystals indicate that he is going to be glued in with what is half-jokingly referred to as "gorilla snot" that when it dries is like epoxy.

Ravyn is our waterfowl specialist. But when it's time to help, you will need a bowl of warm water, a dry towel, a warm wet towel, a warm draft free place (under a brooder lamp is fine), a comfortable seat and a table or counter to work on. Not stone or tile, it's too cold.

Please read this article first https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching but remember that what you see needs to be your guide. Use your own judgement to determine whether to stop or proceed.

 

[Mary Coleman]

I think I'm going to have to help him. It's been well over 40 hrs of no progress.