The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Tree Farmer on August 24, 2016, 08:52:32 pm
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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
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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.
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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...?
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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!
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[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...
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Is it hatched yet?