Update!! need advice on helping duckling hatch and what to do next please

[sarahmichelle86]

This is my biggest egg and also biggest aircell the third egg is in fact the middle in size and aircell largest eggs aircell I'm not too concerned about I've done as suggested and dried out the Bator and put them back in I just don't know what to do about lock down do I increase humidity again or delay lock down by a day but just don't turn them so confused

 

[Roan]

Well, every time you open the incubator, you either allow moisture in or out and since the goal is to keep the incubator as dry as possible, I think I would go ahead with the lock down. Since the room is probably more moist than the incubator at this point.

I would give them a couple of days without turning, if you have to open the incubator to do so. I don't think it would hurt them. Then, on Tuesday, candle them again to see if there's an increase in the air sack. The only thing I can think to do at this point is just wait and hope for the best.

Maybe someone experienced with hatching eggs, especially duck eggs, will see this post and off some advice.

I truly hope this works for you. If not, I really am sorry. I'll be waiting for updates.

 

[sarahmichelle86]

Thank you so much for your advice I really appreciate it, I really have attached to these little eggs I really hope they make it, I'm hoping the next 48hours they make some improvement I won't whether I should still increase humidity on lock down as I know duck eggs need a high humidity to zip out the egg.

 

[Roan]

Well, let's just get through to Wednesday first and see how things go.

 

[sarahmichelle86]

Update!! Last night 2 of the small eggs had pipped through to the air cells the gap at the end was tiny so I read up that opening up the air cell end to create oxygen where there was once not enough room would keep ducklings alive so last night my husband and I made a small hole and starting chipping away both there beaks where through to the air pocket and I was shocked how little space they had, broke through and they started chirping away its now been 12 hours and I'm not sure what steps I should take now the membrane is very dry and I have moistened it with a q-tip need advice on how long to leave it till I step in or if I need to at all.

 

[sarahmichelle86]

 

[Roan]

As long as they have an oxygen supply now, I would just let them be and watch. Resist the temptation to help as much as possible because even during normal incubation they need to struggle to get free. This is what gets the circulation pumping through their veins. Right now, their muscles are atrophied because they've never used them. So to build them up and survive, they need to fight to break free.

Again, this is only my advice and I'm no expert. I posted a link to this thread in the Hatch-A-Long thread where we have several Golden Feathers and below posting as we get ready for the New Year's Day hatch. Hopefully someone will see it and give you better advice.

I'll be praying for you and your new babies.

 

[sarahmichelle86]

Thank you again for your advice its greatly appreciated

 

[Roan]

No problem. I just wish I knew more. Do a search online for Assisted Hatching.

How are they doing now?

 

[sarahmichelle86]

They are ok, the two that I helped pip are still occasionally peeping stretching and poking beak through because they had such small air cells I couldnt take much shell off so I reckon I may just need to wait and pray if all the blood leaves the membrane I will tweeze it back to help but I have no idea when that will be :/