SOS ducklings! Day 28

[Cdoub]

I put 3 khaki kampbell/mallard eggs on lockdown a few days ago but I need advice in wherever or not to intervene. (This is not my first time hatching ducklings but my first time with this particular problem). I live in South Georgia so the humidity has been ridiculously high this summer so in turn when I candled the eggs before putting them on lockdown the air cell in each of them was much smaller than it should be but one had internally pipped on day 24 so I put them on lockdown. On day 25 that one egg had externally pipped but made no more progress so after almost 2 days of no progress I helped him and realized because of the humidity he had grown abnormally large for his egg and the membrane was tough and was pretty much glued to him so i carefully wet him down and assisted. I'm happy to say he is active and doing great. The other 2 internally pipped about 24 hours ago but have not externally pipped (today is day 28). I can hear faint tapping and occasional peeping but I'm wondering if they will have the same issue as the other or if they will run out of air before externally pipping with such a small air cell. I dont want to intervene if not necessary but i would be heartbroken to know i could have saved them and didnt. Thoughts and advice?

 

[Pugsabi]

@KikisGirls @WVduckchick
Know more than I do, but because you already had to assist the first one, I would make an emergency pip at the air cell. Start out small and monitor the membrane. It the membrane is dark I would use a smidge of Vaseline or coconut oil to moisten it. Just be careful not to get it on the ducklings nostrils.

 

[Cdoub]

Thank you for your reply. I ending up pipping them last night. I moistened their membrane and just put them back in incubator. I checked on them this morning but they still have a few blood vessels in their membrane so they arent quite to come out.

 

[Knighstar679]

What I have done is I put I safety hole in the air cell and put it back. Sometimes that’s all it needs to break out. If I notice that area or the area around an external pip turning yellow then I will assist father. It normally means I have a malposition or the duckling is just to big to move.

 

[Cdoub]

Thank you. Yes, the first one was way too big, assuming because of the high humidity and low weight loss. He is doing great and sleeping on me as I type. I will be checking the other ducklings shortly to see if they have made progress or I need to assist further.

 

[Knighstar679]

I have had to assist several do to malposition from shipping. Good luck with your hatch!

 

[WVduckchick]

Thank you. Yes, the first one was way too big, assuming because of the high humidity and low weight loss. He is doing great and sleeping on me as I type. I will be checking the other ducklings shortly to see if they have made progress or I need to assist further.

Great instincts are a huge part of assisting! Sounds like you are doing fine. The safe hole gives them more air to breathe but allows them the time to continue absorbing, so great job! Please let us know how it works out, and we’re here to help if you get in a pinch.

 

[Cdoub]

Thank you so much for your help and support! I am still learning every time. I'm happy to say that one of the ducklings has hatched. He hasn't kicked off the bottom part of the shell so I'm not sure if the membrane is glued to him or he is just resting and absorbing. I will give him him some time and if he doesn't get himself free I will wet the membrane to help him out if it is stuck on. The other egg has made some progress but not out quite yet!