Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[Amykins]

I had read one time that you cannot let the yolk or membrane? dry out, so I have been keeping them wet. I did it with the other two, but they were stronger and they went through the process a bit faster. It worked like a charm for them; I just wanted to check a see if anyone would know if I can do harm wetting them, for instance too much water. I have been winging this from the beginning and I do not want to fail these babies, or my daughter.

There shouldn't be any yolk at all after hatching. Breaking out of an egg is a tough process and it can take several days from first pip to a complete hatch. Sadly, I think you may have jumped the gun a bit by intervening and your babies are paying the price. I could be wrong since I'm not too sure of the timeline, so forgive me.

The other issue is a lack of a proper incubator, which may have had a bad effect on the eggs. It's possible they may have just needed a little more time, or were weak from their rocky start to life. There are so, so many reasons why things go wrong during development but it sounds like you've been trying to do your best to accommodate them.

 

[Learningstill]

I did most definitely jump the gun, they were going to be smothered to death otherwise. They could not move or breathe with the membrane suctioned to them. I would have not helped if it weren't for the definite fate they were to suffer. The other two are doing great, keep our fingers crossed that the others will soon be too. I guess you are able to understand why I joined to get some help

You are correct about the incubation was completely not the typical nor proper way. They started with chickens and finished in a sand bucket and have completed in a tub, so there is not much about this process that gives good odds, and yet we have two active, thriving ducklings, as well as two that should have been goners from the beginning of our interaction with them.

Seriously, one (the weaker of the two cracked) was cracked at the bottom, opposite end of air sac, no egg shell just the lining which caused an air sac to develop at the bottom, I am guessing that is why. Then to make it worse the air sack at the top was pretty big, leaving the baby little room and then to find it shrink wrapped, so sad On the bright side the baby is still truckin'. The other duckling was cracked in the middle of the egg and another spot slightly above the larger side crack. They are breathing, peeping occasionally, and moving their heads periodically. They seem okay, just not as active as the other two.

Thanks for responding!

 

[hokankai]

I did most definitely jump the gun, they were going to be smothered to death otherwise. They could not move or breathe with the membrane suctioned to them. I would have not helped if it weren't for the definite fate they were to suffer. The other two are doing great, keep our fingers crossed that the others will soon be too. I guess you are able to understand why I joined to get some help

You are correct about the incubation was completely not the typical nor proper way. They started with chickens and finished in a sand bucket and have completed in a tub, so there is not much about this process that gives good odds, and yet we have two active, thriving ducklings, as well as two that should have been goners from the beginning of our interaction with them.

Seriously, one (the weaker of the two cracked) was cracked at the bottom, opposite end of air sac, no egg shell just the lining which caused an air sac to develop at the bottom, I am guessing that is why. Then to make it worse the air sack at the top was pretty big, leaving the baby little room and then to find it shrink wrapped, so sad

On the bright side the baby is still truckin'. The other duckling was cracked in the middle of the egg and another spot slightly above the larger side crack. They are breathing, peeping occasionally, and moving their heads periodically. They seem okay, just not as active as the other two.

Thanks for responding!

That is what they should look like. The membrane of the aircell conforms to the shape of the chick/duckling as moisture is lost and the aircell grows. They do not breathe until they puncture the bottom membrane, and then it takes 24-48 hours to get used to breathing air. It sounds to me like they just needed more time? I hope the babies do ok but it's very tricky when you open the egg before the yolk is absorbed because you risk introducing bacteria (there's bacteria in tap water if that's what you're using) which can cause an infection.

 

[qwackers]

Yeah hopefully the just need more time to absorb the yolk. The moisture won't hurt them now they can breathe for themselves - can access air, if they weren't then there would be a chance of drowning them but you should be ok. Just try and keep the area as clean as possible. I assisted 4 out of 5 of mine and I misted them once I'd let them get some air after being shrink wrapped and were fine. Can you get a pic on here at all? How much of the shell is open so to speak?

 

[Learningstill]

There shouldn't be any yolk at all after hatching. Breaking out of an egg is a tough process and it can take several days from first pip to a complete hatch. Sadly, I think you may have jumped the gun a bit by intervening and your babies are paying the price. I could be wrong since I'm not too sure of the timeline, so forgive me.

The other issue is a lack of a proper incubator, which may have had a bad effect on the eggs. It's possible they may have just needed a little more time, or were weak from their rocky start to life. There are so, so many reasons why things go wrong during development but it sounds like you've been trying to do your best to accommodate them. 

Thanks for your explanation and advice about the water. I did boil the water, wouldn't that kill bacteria? I hope so At first I thought it was normal too, until I kept researching and found information on shrink wrapped eggs. I looked at images and read lots, I mean lots. My eggs looked like the shrink wrapped eggs which if you are familiar a lot of the times it does not have a good outcome. They were all internally pipped, but only one was able to slightly externally pip. The others were shrink wrapped so bad they could not reach the shell. It was sad. Two were in their shells, pipped for approx. 24-48, but the other two (weaker two) were pipped for approx. 10. I know that I should have let them go longer, but their activity changed tons within the prior 24 hrs. I am glad I decided to peek, because they were in a white suctioned membrane that was so shriveled they could not even move. I watched for awhile before I jumped. I am hoping I made the right decision. With the few responses, I am feeling a bit nervous. I really was hoping to get more answers. I guess time will tell. Thank you very much for your response. God Bless!

Good

 

[Learningstill]

Sorry, that last message was for meant to quote Hokankai. I do not use social stuff, so forgive my ignorance

 

[Learningstill]

Yeah hopefully the just need more time to absorb the yolk. The moisture won't hurt them now they can breathe for themselves - can access air, if they weren't then there would be a chance of drowning them but you should be ok. Just try and keep the area as clean as possible. I assisted 4 out of 5 of mine and I misted them once I'd let them get some air after being shrink wrapped and were fine. Can you get a pic on here at all? How much of the shell is open so to speak?

Thank you for the assurance. I do not know how to post pic., but I will try.

UPDATE: the weaker of the two is almost out of the shell, but still has some yolk to absorb. Hopefully, that is great news

 

[Learningstill]

 

[Learningstill]

I got it! I am shocked... Sorry the photo is not better, I did not want to shut the heat lamp off or anything. The duckling that is farther out is the one I have been referring to as the weaker. We named that duckling survivor! If you look closely you can see the yolk still attached to duckling and shell. (On the left side of the egg)

 

[Learningstill]

[/IMG]

I figured out how to get a better picture without disturbing the babies. I zoomed in on survivor. You can see her yolk better.
I also included the other two babies whom finished yesterday evening. They are taking their nap. Their names are Akia which mean first born in African and the others name is Basil, no meaning behind the name