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

[shawluvsbirds]

I usually let them rest and continue to absorb yolk for the next 24 hours or so after an internal pip and safety hole.

Then I personally start making the hole (over the air cell only!) a bit bigger over the course of the day. Like maybe every 4/5 hours I'll make the holes a bit bigger. This allows me to see veins and know how well they're absorbing. I let the veins determine my pace. Once you do this, you'll need to gently but liberally spread coconut oil or Vaseline over any exposed membrane. I use a cotton swab. Those membranes dry out fast once they're exposed. You do NOT want them drying out.

Do you have your air cells marked? It helps to mark your air cells once they've drawn down. That way you know exactly where it is safe to remove shell without getting too close to any veins.

Like this pic below. See the ring I drew? I can clearly see from all angles where exactly the air cell starts and stops.

The hole here was started on day 27 I believe. The safety hole (I use a self tapping screw) was placed on day 26 AFTER I was positive the duckling had internally pipped.

If you zoom in, you can see the membrane and veins. See how the veins are still quite full of blood? She was not ready yet. Therefore I wait (and continue to make sure it stays moist) until those veins turn clear. Then I remove a bit more shell from the air cell. I NEVER remove shell from anywhere else. Only the area I marked as the air cell.
View attachment 3059440

@shawluvsbirds how did I do explaining that? In my head it makes sense. I've never really stopped to think about trying to tell someone else how I do it. It's one of those things once you're familiar with you just know.

That and I got a crash course from you ladies all while panicking for my first time.

Sounds about right to me.

@Cheems
Asking questions is fine, that's what the forum is for.
But sometimes you need an answer before someone is available to respond.
Basically this article can answer the majority of them. Refer back to it when your unsure. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...hole-in-a-call-duck-egg.1519717/post-25586114

 

[Cheems]

I usually let them rest and continue to absorb yolk for the next 24 hours or so after an internal pip and safety hole.

Then I personally start making the hole (over the air cell only!) a bit bigger over the course of the day. Like maybe every 4/5 hours I'll make the holes a bit bigger. This allows me to see veins and know how well they're absorbing. I let the veins determine my pace. Once you do this, you'll need to gently but liberally spread coconut oil or Vaseline over any exposed membrane. I use a cotton swab. Those membranes dry out fast once they're exposed. You do NOT want them drying out.

Do you have your air cells marked? It helps to mark your air cells once they've drawn down. That way you know exactly where it is safe to remove shell without getting too close to any veins.

Like this pic below. See the ring I drew? I can clearly see from all angles where exactly the air cell starts and stops.

The hole here was started on day 27 I believe. The safety hole (I use a self tapping screw) was placed on day 26 AFTER I was positive the duckling had internally pipped.

If you zoom in, you can see the membrane and veins. See how the veins are still quite full of blood? She was not ready yet. Therefore I wait (and continue to make sure it stays moist) until those veins turn clear. Then I remove a bit more shell from the air cell. I NEVER remove shell from anywhere else. Only the area I marked as the air cell.
View attachment 3059440

@shawluvsbirds how did I do explaining that? In my head it makes sense. I've never really stopped to think about trying to tell someone else how I do it. It's one of those things once you're familiar with you just know.

That and I got a crash course from you ladies all while panicking for my first time.

I do have my air cells marked, and I have coconut oil ready. I will widen the hole a little bit, then apply coconut oil, only question I have is should I apply coconut oil at the end? or while im widening the hole the whole time? I dont mind staying up and applying moisture.

Also, by the way, not just being nice you did a REALLY good job explaining that and I understood it perfectly except the part about when to apply the coconut oil.

 

[Painted Calls]

I do have my air cells marked, and I have coconut oil ready. I will widen the hole a little bit, then apply coconut oil, only question I have is should I apply coconut oil at the end? or while im widening the hole the whole time? I dont mind staying up and applying moisture.

Also, by the way, not just being nice you did a REALLY good job explaining that and I understood it perfectly except the part about when to apply the coconut oil.

I apply it when I am done making the hole bigger. Then every time the membrane starts to dry out. You'll be able to tell when it needs more. The membrane will start to look like paper. It will go from clear to almost opaque. Just don't let it dry out. Sometimes I'll take a warm wet cotton swab and just gently wet the membrane that way, too. The oil really lasts longer though.

Thank you! I tried to explain it the best I could.

 

[Cheems]

Sounds about right to me.

@Cheems
Asking questions is fine, that's what the forum is for.
But sometimes you need an answer before someone is available to respond.
Basically this article can answer the majority of them. Refer back to it when your unsure. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...hole-in-a-call-duck-egg.1519717/post-25586114

Ok! Thanks, I will go to that thread also, I read it but I will go back to it to see if it answers any other questions I have if I don't remember, if not I will just ask them here!

 

[Cheems]

I apply it when I am done making the hole bigger. Then every time the membrane starts to dry out. You'll be able to tell when it needs more. The membrane will start to look like paper. It will go from clear to almost opaque. Just don't let it dry out. Sometimes I'll take a warm wet cotton swab and just gently wet the membrane that way, too. The oil really lasts longer though.

Thank you! I tried to explain it the best I could.

I assumed a cotton swab, is there another thing you use to apply the moisture? or did you mean cotton swabs are what you used, since you said sometimes, it made it a little confusing for me personally.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I apply it when I am done making the hole bigger. Then every time the membrane starts to dry out. You'll be able to tell when it needs more. The membrane will start to look like paper. It will go from clear to almost opaque. Just don't let it dry out. Sometimes I'll take a warm wet cotton swab and just gently wet the membrane that way, too. The oil really lasts longer though.

Thank you! I tried to explain it the best I could.

Only thing I'd like to add to this is be careful to not get that oil on the ducklings snares.

 

[Painted Calls]

Once the veins turn clear, I VERY CAREFULLY snip small portions of the membrane away. Only once all veins are transparent. Again - I am only removing what would be under the air cell. Over time my eggs will look like this:

Notice the membrane and how its still very pink and the tiny veins are still filled with blood? At this point I'm keeping it moist and waiting for that blood to absorb.

 

[Painted Calls]

Only thing I'd like to add to this is be careful to not get that oil on the ducklings snares.

X 2

Be very careful and accurate when oiling your membranes. The nares need to stay clean and clear.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I assumed a cotton swab, is there another thing you use to apply the moisture? or did you mean cotton swabs are what you used, since you said sometimes, it made it a little confusing for me personally.

She meant wet it with just plain water sometimes too.
I personally have switched to vasaline. It lasts longer and the membrane doesn't turn all brown like it does with the oil.

 

[Painted Calls]

I assumed a cotton swab, is there another thing you use to apply the moisture? or did you mean cotton swabs are what you used, since you said sometimes, it made it a little confusing for me personally.

I meant that I use swabs, but not always water.