Yolk not absorbed

[Bnemeth]

One of my duck eggs started hatching yesterday morning and kinda wiggled its way out this afternoon - he still has a somewhat large yolk sac attached to him and and the shell and it doesn't look like its gotten smaller in the last 4 hours. Is this normal?

 

[duckyfromoz]

No its not normal at all. Generally they hatch with the yolk fully absorbed- or just a tiny bit left to go with the navel area not completely closed over and a single vein attaching them to the egg. This will quickly dry up and break allowing them to be completely free of the shell. Generally it is when there are hatching issues or the duckling was assisted to hatch would there be a large amount of yolk unabsorbed.

There is a series of events that need to happen in order for the duckling to hatch normally - ( that is assuming incubating conditions are perfect. ) They Pip - and then rest- at the time the yolk and blood is almost completely absorbed they start to unzip- the process of turning in the egg is what completes the process of the blood and yolk being absorbed. If there is temp or humidity problems during hatching it may also cause issues with the absorbing of yolk and veins.

 

[Bnemeth]

He is detached from the shell this morning and the yolk is absorbed - fingers crossed that he makes it! It looked like one of the other ducklings was wondering into him and kinda "tipped" the shell over and he started coming out. I put the other ducklings in a brooder so he wouldn't be disturbed and it looks like that worked. It seems like he has a lot of fluid on his body that dried and feels hard. Am I able to squirk warm water on him from a bottle to try and clean him off?

 

[duckyfromoz]

When it is completely dry- some will just flake off over time as it begins to move about- but sometimes it can be so thick that it will restrict the duckling being able to move. You can give it a quick swim- only one minute or two in warm water- and make sure you wipe him dry and put him straight back under the lights so it doesnt chill. It would be a good idea to stay at the brooder for a few minutes afterwards to watch he is staying under the light until dry again. You may have to give it a swim a few times until it is all off if there was a lot of it.