should i intervene?

[esther5]

hi
i read once a chick has internally pipped it has air to breathe for up to 24 hours. well it's 24 hours now since 3 of my runner duck eggs internally pipped and only one has an external pip. should i make a hole in the other 2 eggs? they are a little early as due sat ....

the one who has pipped seems to be zipping but the membrane is parchment white. the humidity is around 80%

thanks

 

[sumi]

Ducks can take quite a long time to progress from one stage to the next, but if you think they are in trouble just make a little "breathing hole" above the air sac line to get some fresh air in there for them. Just a tiny hole, hey? Then leave them for at least another 24 hours to see how they progress from there. Good luck and keep up posted!

 

[esther5]

hi sumi
it's not good news. i decided to candle the 4 eggs that had no external pip. there was no sound or movement so i decided to make a hole. well to cut a long story short, all 4 are dead in their shells. so sad as they were scratching and cheeping earlier today and yesterday.

so i have one little guy alive and the membrane was dry like the other eggs so i've removed shell and wet the membrane. there are still veins so will heave it alone for a few hours now but will wet the membrane if it dries.

i assume the humidity must have been too low throughout the hatch but the air sacs seemed about the right size so i thought all was well.

any advice appreciated.

 

[sumi]

Oh crumbs... I'm sorry to hear that! What was your humidity during the incubation? Also how old/fresh were the eggs before you set them? Any temp spikes or drops during incubation? Sorry about all the questions, I'm just wondering what could've gone wrong here.

 

[esther5]

Oh crumbs... I'm sorry to hear that! What was your humidity during the incubation? Also how old/fresh were the eggs before you set them? Any temp spikes or drops during incubation? Sorry about all the questions, I'm just wondering what could've gone wrong here.

hi
i do a dry hatch for chicken eggs but as ducks need greater humidity i aimed for 30-40% and misted the eggs daily from day 7. the 4 dead look fully developed. at lockdown my humidity has been between 70 and 80%.

the eggs were from ebay so who knows. i started with 12 and has 6 at day 18 and 5 at day 25.

no spikes or drops.

i hope i can save the one remaining. it was externally pipped this morning. still has blood vessels so have removed shell and some outer membrane. it looks pretty stuck but i assume it is safe for now and isn't quite ready yet.

if only i'd known i would have intervened with the other 2 that had internally pipped but why would i as they were not late.....

 

[esther5]

all the way out now. i'm glad to say there was no more blood and the yolk sac is completely absorbed. he/she is very tired and quivery but looks normal to my untrained eye.

i will have to try and find a friend. there are 3 chick eggs due to hatch but not due till sat. this little one is early...

 

[sumi]

I suspect the problem may lay with the eggs' age and/or handling pre-incubation. I hatch duck eggs at the same humidity as chicken eggs (45% and 65% lockdown) and I've had good results. Look, you did your best

I've had a duckling take 4 days to hatch once. Anything can happen with these guys. All we can do is wait and hope for the best, because on the other hand, if we intervene too soon, we may end up with problems too. Fingers crossed your remaining baby will hatch out o.k. for you!

 

[esther5]

thanks for the encouragement. the duckling is tired and weak. cheeping though. i hope tomorrow he/she will be stronger

 

[sumi]

Keep me posted?

 

[esther5]

Keep me posted?

well the duckling is called 'puddle' it is stronger but still very wobbly on it's feet. in the brooder now with a teddy. i wish it had a buddy.
thanks for your encouragement once more. the chick you helped me with 4 ish weeks ago is thriving.