I checked the older threads but did not find an answer regarding how long is normal for a duck to take to get out of the egg. The duck stated pipping 1 day ago -is making sounds but has not progressed much. We read that the process could take this long but at what point is it futile. Another egg has hatched-no problems in 2 hours. Can we assist it at a certain point?(I think the answer is no) Anyhow any suggestions would be greatly appreciated- Thanks so much. Brigid

-- Brigid Luckey-Smith (lckysmth@bellsouth.net), November 20, 2001

Answers

I had the same problem with two duck eggs last week - Indian Runners. The mum was on the eggs and I noticed that one had chipped a little hole in the egg, but was too weak to do anymore, I just cracked the shell off the little duckling (it bleeds a tiny bit where it is attached to the egg at the bottom, but quickly stops), and kept it warm on my chest until it was dry (took about 2 hours for the little thing to dry up and start to move around well), I then put it back under it's mum. The other egg I found half cracked and out of the nest as cold as though it had been in the fridge, so I did the same thing and then put it under mum too. Mum wasn't worried about it at all, in fact she fluffed herself up and tucked them under her with her beak, and they are now 1 week old and as healthy as the others who got out themselves.

-- Maryanne from Australia (maryanoel@bigpond.com), November 21, 2001.

If there is not enough humitity, the duck can get stuck to the inside of the shell. You can make a little hole where his beak is pipping at the shell, so he can breath. If it bleeds where you take off a piece of shell, the duckling is not ready yet. Just leave it for a while with a hole for it to breath. Keep checking, and when you can remove a tiny piece of shell without it bleeding, it' ready. If you take it out too soon it won't make it. It's head looks ready, but the bottom end is not.

You can mist duck eggs to keep the humidity up high. They are harder to hatch than chicks. When our chicks are hatching, we put a hot washcloth in the incubator to keep it really wet so they don't get stuck. If you are using a incubator, don't open the top any more than you have to, it lets the wet air out. A moma duck gets in and out of the water and keeps her eggs wet and hot.

I have left them with their heads sticking out for a whole day, and they were fine. You can wash it off with warm water when it's done to get the sticky stuff off, and dry it with a hairdryer.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), November 21, 2001.

When that happenes to my chicken eggs, I remove bits of the shell but NOT the membrane underneath it. I often dampen the membrane to keep it pliable and easily torn. I have more trouble in the dry, late winter than in the humid spring, so I think it IS humidity related! If a chick hasn't progressed past a small hole in 24 to 36 hours I always help it.

-- terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), November 21, 2001.

Thank You everyone for your quick responses-There is still no duckling so we will try to assist it using the suggestions you all provided. Again thanks so much!!!!

Brigid

-- Brigid Luckey-Smith (lckysmth@bellsouth.net), November 21, 2001.

Brigid, post your question on The Poultry Connection, General Waterfowl forum. You didn't say if you are using artificial means or the eggs are under a hen. The folks on that board are experienced and glad to help. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), November 22, 2001.