Duck eggs day 27

[atomic]

I assisted with removing a small part of the shell (as shown in the provided video) and one duck has managed to completely hatch. I’m not gonna lie, it surprised me how big it is! It’s amazing it even fit in that shell.

 

[My15Ducks]

I assisted with removing a small part of the shell (as shown in the provided video) and one duck has managed to completely hatch. I’m not gonna lie, it surprised me how big it is! It’s amazing it even fit in that shell.

Yay!! How are the others doing?

 

[atomic]

They haven’t hatched but are peeping and moving around in the shell. About how long til the one that hatched stands up? It’s still just sprawled on the floor.

Honestly I think the incubator might be too short.

 

[My15Ducks]

They haven’t hatched but are peeping and moving around in the shell. About how long til the one that hatched stands up? It’s still just sprawled on the floor.

Honestly I think the incubator might be too short.

Usually my ducklings start crawling around within 5 minutes but they can rest longer if they had a difficult hatch. If your incubator floor is slick plastic it can be difficult for them to walk well.

 

[atomic]

The floor is slick so I put a paper towel down, it’s still resting. The other eggs haven’t attempted to hatch, but I can see them moving inside the shell. I have to go to work in an hour and a half, should I leave it in there or move to the brooder? I won’t be home for eight hours after four.

 

[My15Ducks]

The floor is slick so I put a paper towel down, it’s still resting. The other eggs haven’t attempted to hatch, but I can see them moving inside the shell. I have to go to work in an hour and a half, should I leave it in there or move to the brooder? I won’t be home for eight hours after four.

You’ve probably already gone to work, but as long as your brooder is cozy and warm it doesn’t really matter if you take the duckling out now or leave it in. 8 hours is fine. Hopefully it will have recovered some strength when you get home, but you may want to give it some electrolyte or nutridrench

 

[atomic]

I made an executive decision and took it out of the incubator. The humidity was too high for it to dry, and it just kept slipping. There really wasn’t head room for it to stand either. I have a Rubbermaid with a heat light and hay, but I put a wash cloth over the hay for grip. Within minutes it straightened up and was able to somewhat stand, though it was resting again before I left.

When I originally set the eggs I planned on them to hatch during my days off, that obviously didn’t pan out lol. If the other eggs have not hatched when I get home, should I assist again and open the shells a bit more?

 

[My15Ducks]

I made an executive decision and took it out of the incubator. The humidity was too high for it to dry, and it just kept slipping. There really wasn’t head room for it to stand either. I have a Rubbermaid with a heat light and hay, but I put a wash cloth over the hay for grip. Within minutes it straightened up and was able to somewhat stand, though it was resting again before I left.

When I originally set the eggs I planned on them to hatch during my days off, that obviously didn’t pan out lol. If the other eggs have not hatched when I get home, should I assist again and open the shells a bit more?

That’s great it’s already perking up!

I would probably start assisting the others, but go slow and watch the video and read the article. The really key thing is to not rush, watch for blood vessels, and stop if there is bleeding or you see larger blood vessels. The safest way I have found to help the duckling is to open the air cell, moisten the membrane over the duckling and check for blood vessels

 

[atomic]

I just wanted to update and say that with my assistance four of the five ducks have successfully hatched. When I got home from work one had hatched, and it was much more vibrant than the first duck. When I put it in the brooder, the first hatcher immediately picked up and within no time they were both running around. The last two I picked away a little more and one had hatched by this morning. The last one was still having some trouble so I helped it out more, and it managed to get out maybe an hour ago. The fifth egg had died for some reason after internally pipping and I buried it by the coop. Thank you everyone for your help, I couldn’t have been able to do it without you. I was feeling pretty dismal and l unhopeful I would end up with any ducks, four out of five is pretty good considering today is day 32!!

 

[casportpony]

Congratulations, and thanks for the update! Is there any chance that these are Muscovy cross (mule duck)?