Help! Pipping egg question

inchworm

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My broody hen is sitting on a duck egg. My kids picked it up and ran into the house to tell me it has pipped. They put it back under the hen, but is it supposed to be facing a certain way? Right now, the pip is facing upwards. Is it supposed to be under her breast area still?

I am a nervous wreck!
 

Wifezilla

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I wouldn't worry about how it faces. When I hatched out my ducks, the eggs got rolled around from them trying to get out. It was never facing the same way for long! LOL.
 

inchworm

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Thanks! It's going to be a long day! :pop

Inchworm
 

Wifezilla

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Day??? It can take 3 days from pip to hatch for a duck :p
 

DrakeMaiden

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Well, if conditions are right, and it sounds like they are since it is under a warm bird, then I would expect it to be about 32 hours from pip to hatch for a duck egg. It can theoretically take up to 48 hours, but usually that means conditions are not perfect or that something might be wrong.

I know this will mean little to you right now, LOL, but calm down and try not to think about it. Find something to distract you!

Yes, the eggs will roll around and still hatch, but the little ducklings seem to be weighted on one side by the time they pip, so they should naturally tend toward the pip side up. If you are returning the egg to the nest, I would recommend leaving it pip side up (or however it seems to naturally want to gravitate to). But it should be able to hatch regardless.

Good luck! :D
 

inchworm

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DrakeMaiden,

The duckling was very active this morning, but very still this afternoon. Normal?

Inchy
 

inchworm

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Maybe it isn't exactly a pip. The shell isn't off, it is pushed outwards and cracked. It has now made another one next to the first and is wriggling around again.
 

DrakeMaiden

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Yes, sorry I just saw this. Completely normal. It will make the first pip and wait a while . . . 12 hrs? Then it will break a little more and wait for close to 24 hrs. Frustrating as all get out, because it will sit there very quietly. Try to remain patient! :D Easier said than done.
 

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