Taking ducklings out of the incubator?

willowbirdks said:

So we are in the middle of day 28 with duck hatching in the incubator, and we had two babies hatch last night! There are still 16 more eggs in lockdown mode, all of which have externally pipped (except for maybe one). The two that successfully hatched are completely dry, and storming around the incubator like Godzilla.

Should we open the incubator to take out the two hatched and dry ducklings? I'm worried about whether this would impact the other ducks, but those two guys look ready for a brooder...

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WVduckchick said:

In my opinion, the choice depends on your humidity. If you have a hard time keeping humidity up, I'd say leave them! I know how hard it is to watch them bowl the others over, but its natural and doesn't hurt anything. They can even entice the others to come out! On the human side, it feels cruel. But if you can maintain humidity and do it quickly, I personally do it. Your choice, its really not hurting anything to leave them in. Some will tell you it will shrinkwrap your pipped ones, if you open the lid, and there are many possibilities of what "could" happen, so go with your instinct. I actually took a spray bottle that gives a very fine mist, and quickly misted a couple of pips when I pulled a couple out. You definitely don't want the pips getting dry. Good luck!

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Bsranch3 said:

This is a really good question.. I had two Godzillas in my incubator last night too. I did take mine out and put them in a brooder. I don't know if that was the right thing to do or not. I have some pipped eggs and some not. Haven't had any more full hatches as of yet, but they are still trying.
I had a kid raise the lid, I grabbed babies and kid replace lid. I hope I did right! Maybe a veteran hatcher could let us both know!

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WVduckchick said:

Good luck and keep us posted!

I wouldn't think the poops would hurt unless this drags on for many days. Mine was pretty rancid by the time it was over. 4+ days from first pip to last hatch! They ate each others left-overs from the shells and parts of the shells! Yuck. But they are doing great at 4 weeks old now!

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willowbirdks said:

Thank you! Hearing that yours took 4 days makes me feel a lot better... Can you tell it's our first time?

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WVduckchick said:

That was 4 days for 4 ducks... Not just a single lol. First one pipped on Friday afternoon, 2 hatched on Saturday, one on Sunday, and last one didn't hatch till Monday morning. I think the last one pipped on Sunday morning, he was the bill sticker-outer lol.

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