Will they hatch early? Update*I helped

[duckyfromoz]

Being that they are early- I say to people -do not be too rushed to help them in any way other that wetting the membranes.
Leaving them overnight at least may be the best thing for them - as helping before they have fully absorbed the yolk and blood from the veins is too early.

Peeling the shell and the thicker membrane from the area of the air cell is enough for them to hatch by themselves in most cases. This means no removal of the inner membrane part where the veins are- thus no risk of causing a bleed. Removing dried membrane if they get stuck may be needed- but rather than peeling it- wetting it so it just becomes unstuck is also a safer way - letting the movement of the ducking tear the membrane is better as it does need to go through the process of trying to hatch to gain strength- just making sure it is wet and clear- rather than white and dry is enough for most ducklings to be able to hatch when they can again move if they were shrinkwrapped.

 

[Horsefly]

Thanks for the reassurance. I'm not much looking forward to this in the morning but I know they need help to survive. There were two with big holes and a normal pip one when I looked at this earlier today so hopefully the normal pip one and the other 3 eggs all can hatch unassisted. I don't want to have to help them all hatch. Should I mist the eggs or add a wet sponge when I have to open the incubator?

 

[duckyfromoz]

Yes- it is a good idea to spray the eggs if you take them out of the incubator or open it for any reason. Making sure the membranes are wet enough for them to move is the best help you can give them- in most cases ducklings will hatch on their own after being shrinkwrapped once they can move around freely again- but if the shell has been peeled back the membrane just continues to dry out and stick to them. I spray eggs- and use a wet cotton tip to wet the membrane or drip water into the pip hole rather than peel shell now- comparing this to peeling shell and membrane I have found the ducklings hatch in their own time without being weak from being hatched too soon and sleeping for another day or so while they continue to absorb the yolk and blood from the veins.

 

[Horsefly]

Well the outcome wasn't to great

. I took the first eggs out and it was kicking around and I just had to peel and wet the top shell and membrane off and he almost jumped out the egg! I put him back in the incubator and it was hatched within 5 minutes. The next one with a hole I took out wasn't moving and baby was dead. His bill was out but I think some membrane or mucus or something dried in his nose and suffocated him. I got worried then and I pulled out the egg that looked like it had pipped normally. I peeled off the shell from the pip and it was dead too

. We sprayed it with water and peeled more shell off hoping it would revive but no luck.
I heard at least one of the remaining 3 eggs peeping so hopefully we will have more pips in the next day. I sprayed everything down really good so hopefully the humidity will go back up and I instructed the neighbor to not open the incubator. Here's hoping the other three make it out okay

. I was suprised how easy it was to help the little one hatch, there was no blood and he was ready to be out.

 

[Batty about Banties]

hoping all goes well

 

[duckyfromoz]

about the two eggs- but great news with the one that hatched- and there is still hope for the other eggs. When they are ready- as you say- he literally jumped out of the egg- that is how things should be - if peeing shell and membrane you have a weak sleeping duckling - it is too early to be helping them in most cases. You said in your first post- that all the ducklings had pipped into the aircell- now I worry that being a few days later they should all have cracks in the shell by now as well.

 

[Horsefly]

Just a quick update. We took the first duckling out the incubator yesterday and a second one hatched today. No signs of pipping from the remaining 2 eggs

. Humidity is doing good and there is alittle condensation on the top of the glass so that is good.