URGENT HELP NEEDED! DUCK PIPPING AT WRONG END OF SHELL!

[SeasideDuckMan]

i have 2 eggs in lockdown- 1 egg is wiggling and starting to pip internally. on the second, smaller egg, i noticed some dark discoloration on the narrow tip of the shell forming. i candled it and found that the dark area is being fiddled with by the ducks beak. Even though the shell is dark in this area on the outside part, it is the only clear part in the egg and i can see the duckling's beak moving/opening and closing. I think it is trying to peck on the wrong end of the shell! Will it end up drowning, or will it turn around and pip the aircell to breathe?!?!?! PLEASE HELP!!!

PS: this is day 26

 

[mnferalkitty]

I don't know what to tell you, have you hatched duck eggs before? They tend to pip down more towards middle of the egg and make a hole then work on that hole to make it bigger then zip out. I would for sure NOT open the incubator they need that humidity so they can turn in the shell if the humidity is lost then they get sticky and can't turn properly and get stuck

 

[Habibs Hens]

my first ever duck to hatch was 6 weeks ago

it was a complete surprise

i went to check on it on day 27 just after midnight and saw he was running inside the bator


i decided to remove teh shell before i went back to bed and leave him to dry

what i found was a real surprise

the duck pipped and zipped and came out all from the small end


so hopefully all will be ok just let him get on with it a bit longer before you interveine

 

[SeasideDuckMan]

Thanks and I hopefully will experience what happened to you... I do hear that embryos that pip at the small end first tend to hatch sooner than those at the larger end. My only concern is that he will drown, and the dark area where his beak is starting throw me. Maybe he has torn the membrane and that is why the shell looks discolored... Im not sure, this is my first time hatching ducks so i am not expecting everything to go perfectly. I am confident the first egg will hatch with no problem. Thanks for the story! I hope the same happens for me.

 

[Habibs Hens]

Thanks and I hopefully will experience what happened to you... I do hear that embryos that pip at the small end first tend to hatch sooner than those at the larger end. My only concern is that he will drown, and the dark area where his beak is starting throw me. Maybe he has torn the membrane and that is why the shell looks discolored... Im not sure, this is my first time hatching ducks so i am not expecting everything to go perfectly. I am confident the first egg will hatch with no problem. Thanks for the story! I hope the same happens for me.

it was my first successfull duck hatch too so im not too clued up just yet

least not as clued up as i am on chicken hatching

but all iw ill say is good luck and hopefully all will be well

 

[Mum]

What's the latest???

Do you have ducklings now?

 

[SeasideDuckMan]

What's the latest???

Do you have ducklings now?

Well, The egg that was starting to pip at the wrong end looks like it died... All of the blood vessels have gone, its beak is at the same spot and is not moving anymore...I will leave it in their anyway for a few more days just to be sure.

BUT....... The other egg is chirping and tapping away in the shell. It pipped internally yesterday afternoon. and now, it is attempting to pip externally!!! I'm sooo....happy for it!
will keep you guys posted.

PS: this is day 27

~Alex

 

[Mum]

Sorry about the first egg, Alex

It's probably best to dispose of it rather than wait.

Great news on the other egg though

Will be waiting for the updates

 

[duckluck]

I'd candle it before I dispose of it and see if anything is moving...I can tell you I have assisted such "breech" babies before, and they are tricky. It is best if the baby at least puts a crack in the shell so that you get some idea of where to assist, otherwise you may be getting into membrane and cause it to bleed too much. If you get even a little crack, you will know where you can try to help because the duckling will have already pushed the blood out of the membrane at that point by pecking at it.

Good luck, these are tough to work with. The other problem if you start assisting is that if you give it just a breather hole, it may continue to try to turn around and will still suffocate itself. So helping is a crapshoot, but usually better than doing nothing...thus far I have seen only one breech baby hatch itself out of all the eggs I have had. But if you are careful and go slowly it is possible to have success.