Help! My duck hatched but I still have 3 eggs that haven’t pipped

[Littleduckys]

This is my first duck hatched and I’m very worried. My first duck has hatched but I still have 3 ducks that haven’t pipped and 2 that have pipped but one is pipped at the wrong end. Is the difference in all the eggs hatching normal? I put all the eggs in at the same time.

 

[tacothechicken]

Yes often ducklings and chicks are staggard and often hens sit on the nest a few days post first baby to make sure all have hatched. My one hen stayed on the nest for a full two days post first chick so any staggers chicks could hatch babies can go a few days post hatch w/out sustenance as they've absorbed the yolk. It's why we can have newborn chicks sent at less than 24 hours old and survive shipment whith minimum sustenance

 

[tacothechicken]

I would be worried if pipped babies haven't hatched in 24 hours as they will lose energy and die if they can't break free but as long as they make continual progress you should be fine

 

[C3 mommy]

One that pips at the wrong end can take up to 48 hours, it's an internal/external pip so they apparently rest longer.

 

[RubyNala97]

Where did you get the eggs? Are they from your ducks or shipped eggs or bought locally?

 

[EggWalrus]

I have a hen that 2 of her eggs hatched and continued to sit on the other 8 for nearly 2 weeks till I finally took them away. That's dedication!

 

[RubyNala97]

I have a hen that 2 of her eggs hatched and continued to sit on the other 8 for nearly 2 weeks till I finally the them away. That's dedication!

So is it possible that the eggs are not all the same age? Meaning that maybe some eggs were added to clutch after the hen had already started sitting?

 

[EggWalrus]

So is it possible that the eggs are not all the same age? Meaning that maybe some eggs were added to clutch after the hen had already started sitting?

It happens all the time. Lots of times other girls will lay on top of a broody. If you don't mark your hatching eggs with a pencil, and check daily for any new eggs, you can wind up with a staggered hatch or worst, the hen will abandon the nest 48 hrs after 1st babies born and you're left with a bunch of half developed embryos.