Please help me! Do I need to help out?

[Geraldsfamily]

Hello,
I have been incubating duck eggs for the first time and we’re now 3 days into lockdown. One egg pipped somewhere between 25-32 hours ago and one I made an air hole in last night. The one that pipped had made no more progress which I thought was ok but when I’ve looked into the incubator this morning the pipped ones membrane that I can see is very dark and I don’t know whether I should help or not?
I have cotton buds and coconut oil and have looked into it but I’m so nervous to help incase things are ok and I do more damage than good. I’ll post a picture but I’m really need help ASAP please!

 

[Geraldsfamily]

Here he is

 

[am7039]

Hello,
I have been incubating duck eggs for the first time and we’re now 3 days into lockdown. One egg pipped somewhere between 25-32 hours ago and one I made an air hole in last night. The one that pipped had made no more progress which I thought was ok but when I’ve looked into the incubator this morning the pipped ones membrane that I can see is very dark and I don’t know whether I should help or not?
I have cotton buds and coconut oil and have looked into it but I’m so nervous to help incase things are ok and I do more damage than good. I’ll post a picture but I’m really need help ASAP please!

I was in a similar situation with one of my chicken eggs. It is a tough decision on whether to intervene. If you feel that the ducks life is in danger then I would say go ahead and help. I helped my chick hatch because she pipped the narrow end and days went by with no progress. Everything turned out okay but it took a lot of research and YouTube videos on how to properly help. It's a delicate process. I would suggest using a warm wet towel and candle to help verify there is movement within the egg.

 

[.:Rusalka:.]

Sorry for nobody answered yet. I have no experience with ducks, but have a lot with helping chicks out. As best indicator, you can listen to the egg, if it makes no sound you can knock on it carefully. Is it sound calm or as if it would be in distress? I figured out that calmly sounding chicks can wait more, but if you hear nervous sounds they are most likely ready to come out, but can't. Yours sound like enough time to be ready. You can carefully start to remove pieces next to the hole, and you will see if the membrane dried and the baby is stuck. If that's the case, moisten it, I usually just use water. Be careful not to let anything go near the nostrils. If you see the veins, they should look like hair stuck on the membrane, not working, and not bleeding. If you see blood, stop for some hours. Make sure it have nothing in the way of breathing.

 

[Geraldsfamily]

Thank you very much for the responses, I’d done allot of research before hand incase this emergency arised! (I’m a bit of a worrier!)
Anyway, I’ve helped, it’s taken over an hour and a half.
Turns out he’d pipped at the wrong end anyway!
I’m so so happy I made the decision to help because we now have a beautiful little duckling chirping and moving away inside our incubator we’ve called him gerald
We have one more eggo to go, I put a safety hole into his egg last night as he’d been internally pipped for over 24 hours with no external pip so hopefully he’ll hatch on his own but if not, will be doing the process all over again tomorrow morning!

 

[Mvan42]

Good job on helping the little one..

Safty hole for the other was a good idea. 24 hour internal with no external pip it may not have much air left. If nothing happens after a few hours it may need help also. Is it wiggling and chirping still?

 

[Geraldsfamily]

Good job on helping the little one..

Safty hole for the other was a good idea. 24 hour internal with no external pip it may not have much air left. If nothing happens after a few hours it may need help also. Is it wiggling and chirping still?

Thank you
This is our first ever time incubating and hatching so I’m beyond pleased and in love! He’s doing really well in the incubator, chirping away, moving around and opening his little eyes
Yes the other egg is still doing well, I think I’m going to give him until tomorrow morning to make progress on his own now that he has a safety hole. I would love for him to hatch safely on his own and being as I can n see allot of movement in there still I’m not too concerned right now. Hopefully geralds cheeping will help him along!

 

[.:Rusalka:.]

Thank you very much for the responses, I’d done allot of research before hand incase this emergency arised! (I’m a bit of a worrier!)
Anyway, I’ve helped, it’s taken over an hour and a half.
Turns out he’d pipped at the wrong end anyway!
I’m so so happy I made the decision to help because we now have a beautiful little duckling chirping and moving away inside our incubator we’ve called him gerald
We have one more eggo to go, I put a safety hole into his egg last night as he’d been internally pipped for over 24 hours with no external pip so hopefully he’ll hatch on his own but if not, will be doing the process all over again tomorrow morning!

I'm so happy for both of you and you did great!
I learnt that safety holes can make them a little lazy, and hatch a little slower, because they don't feel in so much of a hurry to pip, as they have enough air inside, so don't be surprised or worried for that. I hope the other one will be out and healthy soon

 

[Geraldsfamily]

I'm so happy for both of you and you did great!
I learnt that safety holes can make them a little lazy, and hatch a little slower, because they don't feel in so much of a hurry to pip, as they have enough air inside, so don't be surprised or worried for that. I hope the other one will be out and healthy soon

Thank you so much
That’s great to know about the lazy baby it makes sense that they wouldn’t be in so much of a hurry once they have air!
I will definitely leave him until tomorrow morning but I’m just hoping and praying he makes it and will be strong and healthy like his brother

 

[.:Rusalka:.]

How are things? I hope your other little one also made it and is healthy.