Author Topic: Help please - duck egg / hatching (Read 2575 times)

Tree Farmer · « **on:** August 24, 2016, 08:52:32 pm »

Hi everyone,

I could really use a bit of guidance about a duck egg that hasn't hatched... My runner duck has managed to hatch out three eggs (first time in three years she's been successful, I am so pleased) BUT on Saturday, thinking it was over due and noticing her spending increasing time away from her nest, I decided to take one of her eggs and place it in a primitive incubator a friend has let me borrow.

On Monday three of the nest eggs hatched (there were a few tragedies too) but the one in the incubator hasn't hatched. BUT I can hear / feel movement inside it. I do not trust the temp guide and suspect it is cooler than 38* which is why I guess it might be later.

Should I just leave the egg...? I am worried I haven't kept it humid enough and the shell isn't soft enough or something?

Should I pierce a hole or is that the worst thing to do?

Obviously I really wish I hadn't taken it now, but after three years of her abandoning nests near the end I really thought I was doing the right thing to try and keep at least one safe.

I would be really grateful for any help.

Thanks,
Charlotte

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2016, 09:08:30 pm »

Hmm, a difficult call. I know some folks who maintain you should never interfere, on the basis that only the strongest birds will hatch. I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt and help out those that have pipped but not progressed for a couple of hours. If you break them out too early, though, they may not have reabsorbed the yolk sac and will die. Saturday to Wednesday is a very extended hatching period, which could well have something to do with the incubator temperature being low.

Tree Farmer · « **Reply #2 on:** August 24, 2016, 10:45:05 pm »

Little update - I've done a bit more reading and have candled the egg and it has pipped internally - and I can actually hear cheeping. So I guess I just hang fire and wait for her to make a dent in the shell...?

devonlady · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2016, 09:14:28 am »

Spray the egg with tepid water. If you have to help take a tiny bit of shell away at a time and damp the membrane underneath, don't be tempted to tear away the membrane or you will kill the duckling or have one with cerebral palsy. Good luck!

Tree Farmer · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2016, 09:27:12 am »

[member=89885]devonlady[/member] - Thank you for that. Quick update, she has broken the shell now so seems to be managing okay... hopefully just a few more hours...