[twizzel]

I've got some white Campbell duck eggs due to hatch tomorrow. One of them internally pipped on Friday (the first to do so) and by Sat AM had an external pip. By Sunday AM at 6 there was a hole missing shell but membrane still in tact, however by last night at midnight nothing had happened and I peeled the membrane off slightly as it was going dry and discoloured despite high humidity.

I've left it till this morning and duckling is still alive, I can see the beak but no further forward. It's also pipped at the pointy end of the egg instead of the more rounded.

Should I help it out more? Or keep an eye throughout the day... 

[clydesdaleclopper]

At this stage I would help. It probably can't get into position to zip the egg properly if it has pipped the wrong end. Just go slowly, using warm water to moisten the membrane if it is dried on.

[Stereo]

Agree, it should be away from the membrane now. I usually carefully remove all the shell if possible and then do the membrane very slowly with tweezers. Whenever I've done chickens like this, they tend to kick their legs once they are out like the are fitting or something but I think that's them going through the actions of kicking off the egg which they haven't actually done. Good luck.

[waddy]

Hi Twizzel


We have just had a goose like this. The egg was larger than the others and just wouldn't lose enough weight in spite of running the incy dry. We found the chick had pipped at the wrong end and upside down. There was no way it could have progressed further as it couldn't move. Helping it at least gave it a chance although ultimately it had too many issues (including a badly swollen head) and we lost it. Our previous hatch had a stuck chick who also needed help but did survive and is now getting huge (it is still called Baby though)! If you help please do it a little bit at a time. The chick may not have absorbed all the yolk and the blood vessels may not have been able to dry out. Just free a little around it's head and wait a while to see if it can then do it itself before going further. Keep the membranes moist with a little cooled boiled water and stop and wait some more if there is any bleeding. Try and leave the chick to free itself from the half of the shell around it's bottom as this is where the umbilical will be attached. If it hatches with a large abdomen it will need to recover quietly in the hatcher (then a separated bit of the brooder) for a bit longer to finish absorbing the yolk before going in with the others. It may also be more likely to have splayed legs which can be splinted. If you can help it without taking it out of the incubator environment it would be best but don't put any others at risk.


 


Helen

[twizzel]

Great thankyou. I've helped it and removed the shell and outer membrane at pointy end and around beak. Its foot is over its head. I've stopped as there was a bit of bleeding, so dampened edges of membrane and put it back in incubator. I'm surprised it managed to pip at all really it must be a little fighter! Definitely upside down. It's cheeping quite a lot, luckily I'm home all day working so can keep a close eye on it,

[twizzel]

Well it's out but think it came out a little early as it's still attached to egg lining, so it's patiently lying there!

Interestingly another has pipped at the wrong end this afternoon- 9 others have pipped at the right end though, is this just coincidence or is there a reason? The humidity and temp have always been constant- temp 37.1 and humidity 60% until last 3 days when it's more 85-90%.