Ducking membrane dried out!

[Ginaselv]

Hello!! A mallard duck had layed 8 eggs near my house but something got to the eggs and there were only two left. The mother abandoned them and I took them in to incubate for the last week. I've been doing my best to keep them alive with what I have and They are ready to hatch but I don't have the proper equipment to keep the humidity up.

The ducks are still in the egg but the egg is about half way removed on both with membrane showing. The membrane is dry and white so I continuously spray it with warm water but it still has a few small blood vessels running through it. How can I help them hatch? Are they not ready to come out yet?

 

[LilJoe]

Did the duckling zip? (Crack around the egg?)

 

[Ginaselv]

Did the duckling zip? (Crack around the egg?)

It pipped and I had a feeling the membrane was dry (which it is) so I made the pip bigger so I could apply moisture to it

 

[LilJoe]

It pipped and I had a feeling the membrane was dry (which it is) so I made the pip bigger so I could apply moisture to it

Was It dry before you made the pip larger?
Is she still working on the egg?

 

[Ginaselv]

Was It dry before you made the pip larger?
Is she still working on the egg?

The pip she made was white and dry. After that she didn't continue to do anything to the egg for over 24 hours so I figured she was stuck. Once I peeled back some shell I saw how dry the membrane was and that was when I began to worry if I should keep helping or just keep it wet

 

[LilJoe]

The pip she made was white and dry. After that she didn't continue to do anything to the egg for over 24 hours so I figured she was stuck. Once I peeled back some shell I saw how dry the membrane was and that was when I began to worry if I should keep helping or just keep it wet

She may have been "shrink wrapped" In the membrane.
Has it been over 24hrs?

 

[shawluvsbirds]

1. it's really a tough call, and more of a gut instinct. But generally, they are still absorbing yolk, even after external pip, so helping too soon can be disastrous. Absorption happens much quicker and more efficiently while he is inside that shell.
   
   having said that, I hope it doesn't come to this, but the membrane should stay papery white to wet-looking gray. if it starts looking brown, he may have stopped moving (they constantly make little movements and stay lubricated) and may be drying out. That would be the signal to possibly start assisting. Slowwwwwly, start by chipping away around the pip hole and find his bill. Free breathing is first priority when assisting. Then moisten any exposed membrane with vaseline or coconut oil, and look for active blood vessels. You do not want to rip thru any blood vessels. Any bleeding at all, stop! and wait until vessels recede. keep in mind that usually once you start assisting, it's a process too, and must be done slowly. But once you start, you will likely have to continue (over a period of a few hours) until it fully hatches.
   
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   Ravynscroft likes this.
2. May 22, 2017#63
   
   biophiliacChillin' With My Peeps
   this might give you an idea of the process in an emergency. But I would always rely on advice from this site before Youtube!! We all hope it hatches by itself and you don't need to help

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[shawluvsbirds]

Advice from another thread hope it helps!

 

[Ginaselv]

She may have been "shrink wrapped" In the membrane.
Has it been over 24hrs?

It's been over 24 hours since the pip but at 11 am this morning I took some shell off and nothing since. Just some moving around and peeping

 

[LilJoe]

It's been over 24 hours since the pip but at 11 am this morning I took some shell off and nothing since. Just some moving around and peeping

Id leave her alone for now...of she dpesnt get anything done by tomorrow Id zip for her by cracking around the shell starting at the pip. She should push her way oit then if she's ready.