Very Odd

[msheets]

I thought one of my duck eggs had died from what I saw candling, but I was wrong. It was also the one egg that I never saw rocking. Only maybe about 40-50% of the egg was shadowed & on top of that it was pretty much all on one side with little to no veining. It looked nothing like the others that had been rocking for days & are full of veins. I saw movement in there a few days ago so I knew it was pretty formed (they were due the 21st). I poked a hole in the large end of the egg so I wouldn't break the membrane just in case & when I put my finger against the membrane, it kicked back! I put a damp cloth around the hole & put it back, after checking on it a few minutes ago it is still alive. After the membrane got a little wet I could see the duckling was bigger than it looked & it does have some veining. What could be going on? Could it be deformed & small?

 

[SeaHen]

Did all your other eggs hatch? Were they all set at the same time? I don't know the answers to your questions, but it sounds like this one just wasn't or isn't ready to hatch for whatever reason. What's the latest?

 

[msheets]

Well I believe they are muscovies based on their development, they're all (except this one) about equal & yes they were set the same day. So I think they need incubated 35 days rather than other breeds' 28 days.

 

[Kedreeva]

You're right, they do need 35 instead of 28. Sometimes there are just late hatchers, and if it's alive then you can wait and see, I think. Maybe it will just make it out a day or two late!