When should I put a safety hole in a call duck egg?

[Painted Calls]

From this angle the membrane on the white looks good and ready. As long as there are no active veins - it's safe to cut/tear back.

 

[Painted Calls]

I was taught that as long as they are still chewing frequently, they are still absorbing yolk. When they are ready, they will stretch and push and flap that little wing. It takes time, but typically they'll get a foot out. That's when I peel shell back off the top a little to expose the membrane there. Keep that moist until veins are clear. Then snip that and they will do the rest themselves.

 

[Cheems]

I was taught that as long as they are still chewing frequently, they are still absorbing yolk. When they are ready, they will stretch and push and flap that little wing. It takes time, but typically they'll get a foot out. That's when I peel she'll back off the top a little to expose the membrane there. Keep that moist until veins are clear. Then snip that and they will do the rest themselves.

Will they still open and close their mouth, kinda like chewing but a whole lot less when they are ready to come out? or do they stop chewing completely. I get they will still move their beak and open and close it, but do they pretty much completely stop chewing or just less?

 

[Painted Calls]

Will they still open and close their mouth, kinda like chewing but a whole lot less when they are ready to come out? or do they stop chewing completely. I get they will still move their beak and open and close it, but do they pretty much completely stop chewing or just less?

I don't know if they really stop, but they definitely slow way down to the point you'll know.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Looking great!

Agree!

Will they still open and close their mouth, kinda like chewing but a whole lot less when they are ready to come out? or do they stop chewing completely. I get they will still move their beak and open and close it, but do they pretty much completely stop chewing or just less?

They don't completely stopped but there will be a lot less of that and a lot more fussing and kicking to get out. In this video the duck had basically hatched itself it just needed a little help. But you can see how it is fussing to get out.

 

[Cheems]

Picture of white now, pastel is not TOO far behind, but I haven't opened up the membrane much because its still chewing. The other 2 nutmeg and penciled are doing awesome, they just need a little more time in order to absorb that blood. White is doing exactly as shaw described! no longer chewing but really moving around and wiggling to get out and I expect it will hatch tonight. I am a little concerned though about the duckling being able to fit through that hole so I might have to widen it, but I am probably just paranoid, but I will widen it if neccisary, I am just afraid of causing bleeding if I go away from the air sac

 

[Cheems]

I am a little concerned right now, the white duckling isn't as active I think it should be for what stage its on, its not wiggling very much, it was a little bit more earlier. It is still wiggling and moving around, it totally is, just not as much and it seems more tired, it may have just been resting when I watched it for a while though. I think I am going to give it a little bit more time although I am wondering if that means it needs more help. I totally get you guys are asleep btw so no pressure and ik you wont respond rn.

 

[Cheems]

I think it hasn't absorbed all the yolk yet it stopped the almost constant chewing and only chews every like around 10-30 seconds. I am going to give it some time. I am not sure it's not done absorbing the yolk but I think I might have saw the yolk and it would explain a few things.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I think it hasn't absorbed all the yolk yet it stopped the almost constant chewing and only chews every like around 10-30 seconds. I am going to give it some time. I am not sure it's not done absorbing the yolk but I think I might have saw the yolk and it would explain a few things.

I haven’t hatched calls but have helped a few ducklings hatch. Sometimes they rest an are less active at times.
Hopefully you will hsvd little ones soon

 

[Painted Calls]

I think it hasn't absorbed all the yolk yet it stopped the almost constant chewing and only chews every like around 10-30 seconds. I am going to give it some time. I am not sure it's not done absorbing the yolk but I think I might have saw the yolk and it would explain a few things.

How is white this morning? They do stop and sleep during the hatching process. It's a lot of work for those tiny little peepers!