Preparing to set call and pekin duck eggs! Hatch day should be March 4, 2021 if all goes well!

[HeatherKellyB]

I just checked on my eggs and I see the first external pip! This was the egg that seemed to be working really hard but another egg beat that one to first internal pip.

***Question...... The external pip is facing down. Should I gently turn the egg so the external pip is facing up? It seems like I did that with one of the call eggs but I wanted to ask for thoughts before I just reached in and did it.***

Also, everyone is pipped internally as of late last night /very early this am. I made safety holes for everyone as they pipped. This is a quiet little group

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Either another one is piping externally or this one is trying to zip. I can hear a crack/tap but this is the only pip I see. Thoughts?

Edited to add: It will be Day 26 in a few hours, if that makes any difference in your thoughts

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Either another one is piping externally or this one is trying to zip. I can hear a crack/tap but this is the only pip I see. Thoughts?
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Edited to add: It will be Day 26 in a few hours, if that makes any difference in your thoughts

I think Sit on your hands.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I think Sit on your hands.

Thank you so much! I'll leave it. It's only been about 20 hours since the internal pip and I believe the external pip was made just before I posted to ask about it. The other crack/tap seems to be the same duckling completing it's external pip, I guess. They all seem to be hanging out, resting and absorbing in preparation for hatching. Thanks again!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Good morning! My first Aztec duckling has been working hard throughout the night. I came in to find that it has zipped all the way around the shell completely. A piece of shell where the duckling came to rest had begun to jab into the little Bill. I didn't take a picture before but I ended up removing the sharp piece as it was beginning to leave a red abrasion on its bill. I made sure the membrane wasn't dried out and causing it to be stuck. I believe it is able to get out now, but it's resting instead. Has anyone seen this happen to the bill before? I haven't checked the others for movement yet but I know that I see one more external pip. I'm hoping this little one will get its strength up and pop out of it's shell.

Edited to add that it was working on zipping at around 3am this morning. So it's been working for hours. Poor little one. I'm sure it's exhausted

 

[HeatherKellyB]

After a lot of hard work, the first Aztec has finally made it out of it's shell, well mostly. I believe this one is a Blue Pearl, but of course I may be wrong. I've got a 50% chance of being right I do see two other external pips.

 

[Conan]

After a lot of hard work, the first Aztec has finally made it out of it's shell, well mostly. I believe this one is a Blue Pearl, but of course I may be wrong. I've got a 50% chance of being right I do see two other external pips.
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Aztecs!! So awesome. I'm so interested in these little guys. Can't wait to see what your group looks like.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

After a lot of hard work, the first Aztec has finally made it out of it's shell, well mostly. I believe this one is a Blue Pearl, but of course I may be wrong. I've got a 50% chance of being right I do see two other external pips.
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Adorable! So exciting!!

 

[Painted Calls]

I quit getting alerts for this thread again. So exciting about your Aztecs Heather!! Can't wait to see pics.

Recent Roxy and Butter pics!

And babies!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I quit getting alerts for this thread again. So exciting about your Aztecs Heather!! Can't wait to see pics.

Recent Roxy and Butter pics!
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And babies!
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Wow! They are so beautiful! The baby flock strutting their stuff is the best! It reminded me of a movie intro where the group of heroes is doing their bada$$ walk through, of course in slow mo like shown here