Urgent: Does this duckling look distressed?

[Golden Brahma 64]

Looking good! Just a few minor veins to finish up. I like to free the area above the head a little more, just so the membrane doesn't get stuck to the right eye. And I also remove the section of shell that you still have in the middle... I take off the whole air cell end. But I think she's in good shape.

I expect you will have to help a little more, once she starts squirming and really trying to get out. You might have to remove the rest of that shell (on the end, not above her head on the side of the egg), and help peel membrane off, then she will shoot right out. Might be soon, might be a few more hours.

Some externally pipped ducklings can still be absorbing the yolk. I think it’s best to leave it the way it is and let nature take its course.

 

[WVduckchick]

Some externally pipped ducklings can still be absorbing the yolk. I think it’s best to leave it the way it is and let nature take its course.

You are absolutely correct!
If you look back, I suggested waiting to begin with. But once an assist is started, I was only informing that it may be necessary to continue *once the time is right* when the duckling starts squirming to get out.

 

[Lugh]

So this is where we are now. 50 hours since external pip. She's been like this all day and I'm worried that she might be distressed while I am asleep. How does she look to all of you?

 

[lawson1986]

I would say, looks like she can breath, so that's good... If you can keep the humidity up high enough she should be fine.

 

[Sue S]

How is the duckling doing???? Did it make it's way out, did you have to assist anymore????

 

[Lugh]

Sooo, last night was a long night. She seemed to be stuck even after I made it easier for her to hatch. I left her in a high humidity incubator for a solid 12 hours to see if nature would take its course, but no such luck. I noticed that the membrane started to dry into that hard amber-like goo so I decided to intervene more fully. Using a Q-tip, I painstakingly wet and peeled back the membrane which, by this point, had seen most of the blood vessels close off. She got her head free and I could see that her yolk sac wasn't fully absorbed yet so I just left her in there with the bottom part of the shell on. She seemed to be exhausted and just put her head down and slept for about 20 hours until she decided she wanted to get rid of the shell. Now she's in the brooder with her sister and seems to be no worse for the wear.

Now that it's all over, I find it puzzling that she had tried to unzip without a fully absorbed yolk sac-- I have never had a duck that tried to hatch far too early. I will say I am glad I intervene though, as the remaining for eggs that had internally pipped are all dead. I don't really know why. I would very much like to thank everyone who offered their advice. This was the most challenging hatch I've ever had and I'm glad you all were there to talk me through it.

So say hi to Schnitzel, the newest lavender muscovy in the flock! She's the one in the back. In the front is her sister Peeper--expertly named by my 2-year old son--who hatched just fine on her own.

 

[WVduckchick]

Pepper and Schnitzel are beautiful!!
Great job!

 

[Sue S]

Congratulations!!!! So cute

 

[KittyCat13]

Congratulations, they're adorable! I love their names