Is my hatchling in trouble?

HollowOfWisps said:

That is odd for sure. Since it's bill is through the external membrane it actually has started un-zipping, but if it's still chewing and yawning it got a little hasty with starting the process before the yolk was fully absorbed (also possible malposition). If it's been a full 48 hours then I would start by peeling a small piece of shell off, let it sit for another 2-3 hours then pull another piece off. After you remove a piece of shell take plain original Neosporin (you can also use Vaseline, coconut oil, olive oil etc) on a q tip and lightly coat any exposed membrane to keep it from sticking. If you see veins stop and wait for them to recede before pulling off any more shell. With it still chewing and yawning you want to remove the shell in small pieces allowing time in-between for the yolk time to finish absorbing.

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I agree with Hollow!

HollowOfWisps said:

That is odd for sure. Since it's bill is through the external membrane it actually has started un-zipping, but if it's still chewing and yawning it got a little hasty with starting the process before the yolk was fully absorbed (also possible malposition). If it's been a full 48 hours then I would start by peeling a small piece of shell off, let it sit for another 2-3 hours then pull another piece off. After you remove a piece of shell take plain original Neosporin (you can also use Vaseline, coconut oil, olive oil etc) on a q tip and lightly coat any exposed membrane to keep it from sticking. If you see veins stop and wait for them to recede before pulling off any more shell. With it still chewing and yawning you want to remove the shell in small pieces allowing time in-between for the yolk time to finish absorbing.

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I peeled back some shell back last night, and accidentally hit a blood vessel. I was so worried. Here's the state of things this morning. A lot of peeping and rocking around and pushing. How long should I let this go on?

livingwithjane said:

I peeled back some shell back last night, and accidentally hit a blood vessel. I was so worried. Here's the state of things this morning. A lot of peeping and rocking around and pushing. How long should I let this go on?

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I don't see any veins under the membrane so I would peel off the rest of that exposed membrane which should be enough for the duckling to come out.

HollowOfWisps said:

I don't see any veins under the membrane so I would peel off the rest of that exposed membrane which should be enough for the duckling to come out.

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Ok. So, I peeled off just a tiny bit of the membrane and the duckling immediately kicked itself out of the shell. I put it back in the incubator. It still has the shell and a bit of membrane/yoke attached to it's belly. It's chirping and moving and kicking. It's very lively. Will the extra yoke and membrane break loose like an umbilical cord? How long should the duckling stay in the incubator? It's siblings haven't even started hatching.

livingwithjane said:

Ok. So, I peeled off just a tiny bit of the membrane and the duckling immediately kicked itself out of the shell. I put it back in the incubator. It still has the shell and a bit of membrane/yoke attached to it's belly. It's chirping and moving and kicking. It's very lively. Will the extra yoke and membrane break loose like an umbilical cord? How long should the duckling stay in the incubator? It's siblings haven't even started hatching.

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I can’t really see if there’s still yoke or just membrane from the pic but if you think there is still some the duckling should be set upright in a small cup or similar inside the incubator to finish absorbing the yoke safely. Once it’s finished absorbing the membrane will dry up and drop off on its own. Trying to remove could cause harm.

Artichoke Lover said:

I can’t really see if there’s still yoke or just membrane from the pic but if you think there is still some the duckling should be set upright in a small cup or similar inside the incubator to finish absorbing the yoke safely. Once it’s finished absorbing the membrane will dry up and drop off on its own. Trying to remove could cause harm.

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How long should we leave it in there? Until it's fluffy?

Put it on a dry paper towel in a small bowel and put it back in the incubator if you still see it attached to the yolk

livingwithjane said:

Ok. So, I peeled off just a tiny bit of the membrane and the duckling immediately kicked itself out of the shell. I put it back in the incubator. It still has the shell and a bit of membrane/yoke attached to it's belly. It's chirping and moving and kicking. It's very lively. Will the extra yoke and membrane break loose like an umbilical cord? How long should the duckling stay in the incubator? It's siblings haven't even started hatching.

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If you are referring to the white/green goo in the picture that is not yolk and can be wiped off right away with a warm damp towel along with any stuck membrane pieces. Unabsorbed yolk will be a yellow orange color and appear to be a bulging at the navel. If the yolk sac has not fully absorbed I would take some original Neosporin (or poultry antibiotic ointment/spray) and rub some on the navel to prevent infection which can occur if they hatch with the yolk still. Going off of your picture above I do not see any yolk, but if in person you see the yellow/orange bulge at the navel then it does indeed still have yolk to absorb. As for leaving it in if it does have yolk to absorb you will want to leave it in the incubator until that is gone and it is fluffed. If there is no yolk to absorb I would just wait until it's fluffed and move it to the brooder.

DuckyDonna said:

Put it on a dry paper towel in a small bowel and put it back in the incubator if you still see it attached to the yolk

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It kicked off the shell and membrane. It seems to be trying very hard to get it's feet on the ground. It's kicking a lot and chirping. It can't raise it's head. How long before it's able to sit up? When should we remove it from the incubator?
Thank you for your help.

livingwithjane said:

It kicked off the shell and membrane. It seems to be trying very hard to get it's feet on the ground. It's kicking a lot and chirping. It can't raise it's head. How long before it's able to sit up? When should we remove it from the incubator?
Thank you for your help.

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It can take only a couple hours and sometimes much longer for them to get them on their feet. They hatch completely exhausted with no muscle development and assisted hatches often take much longer to gain their strength. All of my ducklings get Rooster Booster's "Poultry Cell" diluted in their water once they get moved to the brooder, but if they are not mobile by 24 hours after hatch I give an undiluted dose daily until they are mobile.