Duck hatching question

[cmobley]

I have 15 eggs that were supposed to start hatching saturday but found a duck in the incubator this evening when I got home from work. I also see 3 more eggs cracking and moving. Humiditys at 83% and pretty easy to get back up if the lids taken off. I really dont wanna leave it in there for a couple days waiting on the others to hatch. I know the consequences of opening a incubator in lockdown. What would you do in this situation?

 

[2 many chickens]

I usually start removing once babies are fluffed up and walking. So after 6 hours or so? I never leave them in for 24 hours. Never had a shrink wrapped babe either.

BUT since this is the first duck, his little peeps and squeaks are encouraging the others to hatch.

Totally up to you! You can take baby out now if you wish to. Your humidity is high enough as to where it will quickly rise back up.

 

[Xouie]

Yeah, I know the feeling. “NEVER open the incubator during the hatch!!” But reality is sometimes you gotta. If for no other reason than the chicks or klings start playing rugby with the unhatched eggs. I try to wait til there are a few hatched and then take just the fluffy ones. The damp ones left behind are the cheerleaders for the rest of the eggs.

 

[cmobley]

Thanks for the answers. I always take out my quail and chicks but I wasnt sure how ducks are affected by opening and all. I'll let it stay in till tomorrow morning I dont have their brooder set up yet that was gonna be my job for tomorrow since saturday was supposed to be hatch day.

 

[cmobley]

Hatch is moving along nicely. Had 2 more out this morning. There was one about to pop its egg open when I got these out so the others still have a cheerleader. These are gonna be crested magpie, mallard,and mallard buff mix. They all lay at night so I never know who lays what. I think I have my mallard egg figured out it's usually the smallest shes my smallest duck.