Shrink wrapped duckling

NEWTODUCKS

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Please help with advice on how to assist my runner duckling who appears to be shrink wrapped and unable to get out of it's egg. They are now 30 days into incubation,2 hatched normally yesterday am, one I had to help last night by removing some shell and membrane as it's beak was just appearing in the opening and had been like that for several hours.It hatched fully this morning and is exhausted but is improving and alert.
One internally pipped but has not done anything for 2 days and I assume is dead.
I have put wet kitchen roll round the shell of this one after removing some shell to aid it but the membrane is stuck to the duckling and as I can see veins I don't want it to bleed so have done nothing more.
They are in a covatutto incubator and have been unable to increase the humidity beyond 58.The little one has it's beak out and is cheeping.
I know it's unwise to interfere but I was going to lose them.
Please help!!
 
Hello, if it's been 30 days i would take it out of the egg quickly- then put it back in the incubator-it will die if it cant get out as the membrane will be tough and too dry.
regards, David
 
If you have to, only if you have to warm water on bit of cotton wool to try to soak and soften the membrane, doesnt soften loads but helps a tad!
 
I've spent the last hour or more releasing the duckling It was also stuck to the egg at the vent. I've had to snip the ? umbilical cord to release it because it was dragging it behind it. It's now resting and appears quite perky and has been trying to get to it's feet!This is the first time I've tried to incubate any eggs and researched how to do it but seem to have had many problems at the hatch. As I've already explained, first I had one internally pip then nothing, 2 hatched no problem and the last 2 have had problems. They were purchased from a "reputable seller" so I believe the parents were good stock. I'm just baffled why some were fine and some were not. Will post the outcome, hoping it's a happy one.Thanks for the support.
 
Sometimes they 'just do' have problems, and alot of people wont intervene, me on the otherhand can't help myself if I think theyre giving it a good go and are strong!

When you snipped the umbilical cord was the ducklings tummy closed up? As I have, before now had a duckling hatch out and still have the umbilical cord attatched with a gaping hole in her tummy, needless to say with an extra tlc (a bit too much - human imprinted she is now lol) but she is a big strong healthy girl now. I would be concerned that snipping the umbilical cord would lead to severe bleeding, unless it was completely dried up, which where if it was dried up, then it should be fine. Just keep an eye, good luck with your duckling! Hope it's ok!
 
Morning all,
Great news, left Marley(he's a black duckling, well, I'm calling him he for the moment) in the incubator last night and this morning he is alert and on his feet. Have put him in with the other 3 who came and had a good look at him and now they're all snuggled up together. Am making them a yoghurt,chicken yolk breakfast to built them up and give them natural bacteria after such a poor start.
Anyway, fingers crossed
 
Sorry forgot to say it was what appeared to me to be an umbilical cord that was attached to the membrane at the bottomof the egg, but I don't know for sure. It was entering the vent and I could see it was pulling on it so snipped it as there was no way it was going to come away without doing some damage.He has no obvious wounds and looks perfect!
 
Must of just been a bit of 'yuck' I call it lol the gloopy stuff in the shell at the end that dried a bit!

Aww but i'm really pleased for little Marley :-)08 Welldone!!
 
Marley still appears fine. The yoghurt/egg concoction was a big success, it all went, even though they walked in it and it went everywhere. Marley was wearing some as a hat!I'll give them somemore tomorrow. I've added 4 tiny chicks to the group today- I bought these from a local breeder.I think me and incubators is not such a good idea.
Thanks for the encouragement to intervene, I'm sure he's gonna be just fine.
 

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