Duck eggs hatching—help?

[MrsHudson221B]

Hi!

I have two runner duck eggs in the incubator (hovabator, if that matters) that I put in lockdown on Saturday morning. I’ve been keeping humidity about 80% since lockdown. They’ve both been rocking and rolling and peeping. I noticed what I thought was a pip on the skinny end (non air cell) of one. I candled to make sure the duckling wasn’t flipped wrong way in egg and saw internal pip in air cell and clearly see duck bill inside air cell. It looks like a small piece of egg shell was just kicked off the end... membrane still in tact. Should I do anything? Just wait and see? I’ve helped lots of chicks out when I’ve noticed an abnormality, but this is my first batch of ducklings.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Ducks take ages (I had one take two and a half days from external pip to hatch). I would remove enough membrane for him to get air, just on principle, and then leave them be.

Good luck with your hatch.

 

[MrsHudson221B]

So, I should make another hole in the air cell side? The exposed membrane is on the back end.

I’m afraid of it getting shrink wrapped if I break membrane on tail end— maybe I’m being paranoid...

 

[sylviethecochin]

So, I should make another hole in the air cell side? The exposed membrane is on the back end.

I’m afraid of it getting shrink wrapped if I break membrane on tail end— maybe I’m being paranoid...

Oops! Sorry for misunderstanding.

If he hasn't pipped in the air cell, just ignore it. He's not ready yet. Any idea what caused that? It's not a doube-yolker or anything weird like that, right?

As for the second question: So long as your humidity's sufficient, shrink-wrapping should not happen.

 

[MrsHudson221B]

No prob. It’s a weird circumstance... I shoulda posted a pic. I checked again a little while ago, and it’s pipped a second spot on the correct end. I’m so relieved!

Gonna let the little booger work on its own. It seems active and healthy with periods of lots of peeping and movement. Whew!

I’ll keep an eye on the humidity, and hopefully post some baby pics by mid-week.

 

[Glitterchicks]

@KikisGirls
Help!

 

[Kiki]

Wait. Just wait.

Ducks take for ever!


I would poke a small small hole in the membrane if there is not a hole in it.
I used a push pin to poke a small hole recently in a duck egg just to make sure it had air to breath.
You can see the holes I poked here:
#9272

 

[MrsHudson221B]

So, it was trying to zip, but I didn’t like what I was seeing. Did some duck midwifery, and I’m glad I did. It was super-malpositioned with its head in the middle of the egg—just kicking shell off. It’s a super spunky one with lots of wiggling and peeping. The second egg just pipped on wrong end, so I’m gonna watch it like a hawk today. May go in for a second round, but I hate to hatch them too early with unabsorbed yolk.
Here’s a first baby pic:

 

[MrsHudson221B]

Second egg didn’t make it. I went ahead and opened to take a look: the duckling had a head deformity (very small and pointy at back), so wouldn’t have made it long if it had hatched well. Ugh.

Now to try to find some friend/ sibling ducklings for my Singleton....

 

[MrsHudson221B]

@KikisGirls
I noticed you’re from Houston—I’m east of Austin and am having a heck of a time finding duckling companions. The ones I’m seeing on Craigslist are at least one month old, and I’m afraid the baby would get trampled. No farm stores around here have ducks anymore. I have some feelers out with friends, but I thought I’d ask you, too. Just in case you know anyone with a recent hatch. I’ll take just about anything close in age so I can have friends for this little one. I’m considering ordering some Pekins from Ideal and driving to pick them up— cant imagine shipping birds in this miserable heat and having a positive outcome.

Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!