how long for veins to dry up?

[lilstar]

So long story short, something (?) happened to my incubator and during hatch (seriously, zipping like crazy!) the temp spiked to over 120 and killed my babies Clinging to false hope that there might be survivors, I got out the tweezers and took the eggs out one by one to chip back some shell to confirm.. dead I found 9 dead babies before I discovered one hanging in there! One tough little duck (Luckyducky? I think the name might stick!) managed to survive the temp spike that wipes out its' siblings. I of course, rushed it back to the incubator. This was about 12 hours ago. I can see that its not ready to come out yet. Since I opened up a little bit of the shell, I have a pretty clear view of the membrane covering its head. Veins, thick with blood. How long before those will dry out? It was 28 full days this morning. I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight with this lil guy still in its shell! Having a hard time sitting on my hands here, I don't want to lose my last one! But sit on my hands I must.. because I SEE those veins. Bulging. So don't worry. I won't touch. I know I'd kill it quicker than help. Baby appears to be doing well. Moving its bill lots and peeping occasionally. I'll be on the hunt for a buddy or 2 for it. The thought of one lonely duckling all alone in the brooder breaks my heart!

 

[silkie_sue]

I have never hatched ducks but would guess they are similar to chicks at that point of hatch.
Thick veins..definately not ready yet.....I have had to help chick once and I waited along time watching those veins...lol..they will go from thick to almost thread like.

 

[sherylreno]

It won't take too long for them to dry out now that there is some air exposed on them. Just be patient. I'm so sorry you lost the rest of your hatch. I had a horrible hatch 3 weeks ago too and it just killed me watching them die, I now know how to help them but you must wait for the veins to dry out. Once they do then you can pop off the top if need be without harming the little ducky.

Good luck!

 

[lilstar]

Well this morning the big veins I saw last night were dried out enough so I got out the tweezers. But further into the shell they don't look fully absorbed and I found a place or 2 with a teeeny amount of bleeding. So back to the incubator. There's a decent sized opening now so we're admiring the cuteness. Does it mean anything when it opens its bill really wide other than its being cute? I'm new to ducks and have no idea if its just a "duck thing" (or innocent yawn) or if it could be any sign of distress.

 

[sherylreno]

You did your best now so I would watch it and see how it does. They do duck things and yawn when hatching, it's very hard work for them to get out of the egg.

 

[lilstar]

He's so cute just chilling there. Yawning and preening a little bit. He can get part of a wing out (just by location of the hole I made, not by any effort!!) and preens on it once in a while. No visible escape efforts, just sittin there lookin pretty

 

[sherylreno]

How's the ducky doing today? Did he get out?

 

[lilstar]

He got out yesterday evening! He's cute as heck, fluffy, and spoiled rotten Black with a yellow neck, yellow wing tips, a couple little yellow stripes on his bill and a little bit of yellow on his feet. Drake's a Cayuga and I think one hen is as well, but I think the non-cayuga hen may have laid this one? Don't know what she is, I need to ask.

 

[sherylreno]

YAAAAAAAAAY, I'm so happy for you and your ducklings! Congratulations on your new babies!!!!