Should I help this duck hatchling????

[Krazyquilts]

I have a first-time broody duck whose eggs are supposed to hatch today or tomorrow. When I went out to check on her and her eggs just now, I found that an egg had been kicked out of the nest and was sitting in the middle of the floor of the duck house, and some of the egg's shell was gone but the sack (I think?) is still intact and opaque white and kind of leathery-looking. I'm pretty sure I saw the duckling inside moving under the surface. The egg is now in a separate nesting box on my deck when I can monitor it and the other ducks can't walk on it.

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Should I poke an air Hole? Leave it alone? Something else? My only other broody experience went great, but these eggs are ones I ordered on EBay. (Not sure if that's pertinent.) I'm posting this in the duck thread too.

 

[Krazyquilts]

During some frantic googling, I found this thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-is-dried-out-help-update-she-made-it.217070/ so I've spritzed the membrane with water to re-hydrate it and also draped a wet paper towel over a little cardboard "tent" to help keep it from drying out. I tore a tiny hole but stopped immediately because it started to bleed.

 

[chickens really]

Yes....Poke a small hole in the membrane and use Vaseline or cooking oil....Yes coconut oil is fine but not necessary...Get it warmed up...Do not assist too much incase it bleeds out...

 

[Krazyquilts]

Post detailing the update: Should I help this hatchling????