Help please with first hatch

[lj2016]

I'm not sure any of the others will hatch as only 1 has pipped and there's no movement. The duckling has fluffed up a little but not loads so I'm not sure whether to move him to the brooder or not. I do have a heat lamp in the brooder. What do you think? I'm worried he's to hot and stifled in the hatcher

 

[dotknott]

Keep him in the incubator until fluffy and dry. He's going to need a buddy soon. I hope the others hatch.

 

[lj2016]

He's about 9hrs in the hatcher now and still not quite fluffy I don't think . . .

 

[lj2016]

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Congratulations on your hatchling! He can safely stay in the incubator for 24 hours, at least, so leaving him for longer to dry shouldn't be a problem. Ducklings gain strength and coordination quickly, so hopefully he'll be on his feet and balanced in a day or two.

Re the fluffiness: is he crusty? Sometimes there's "goo" in the egg that will stick to the duckling and will dry hard. If so, he won't fluff up normally. It's possible to bathe him so the "crust" comes off. Here's a BYC thread with more info: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/371790/help-sticky-chick-needs-washing. I've bathed both chicks and ducklings and only use lukewarm water (no soap).

Good luck with the rest of your hatch.

 

[WVduckchick]

Does his belly look fully absorbed? Everything look good now? Anything going on with the other eggs? What's the humidity at now? he should be dry and fluffy by now, I would think. (I don't normally leave mine in the bator that long....I'm not very patient sometimes lol)

 

[lj2016]

Humidity is raised so about 70-80% for the hatch. We lowered incubation humidity and the humidity in the hatcher until day 28 and this seems to have worked for this guy. I'll send a pic of the only other egg in there which has pipped but that was this morning and it's not moved or changed since. I'm tempted to whip the duckling out in to my brooder but worried he'll be cold and lonely?

 

[WVduckchick]

Humidity is raised so about 70-80% for the hatch. We lowered incubation humidity and the humidity in the hatcher until day 28 and this seems to have worked for this guy. I'll send a pic of the only other egg in there which has pipped but that was this morning and it's not moved or changed since. I'm tempted to whip the duckling out in to my brooder but worried he'll be cold and lonely?

That's likely why the one that hatched isn't fully dry, with humidity that high, but it's fine, since you have another pip, I'd leave him for a bit longer. He may encourage the other one out sooner too.

You 'can' pull him out, but he'll be fine for a while longer. And he'll be better in the brooder with a buddy.

 

[lj2016]

OK thanks I'll leave him a few more hours then, I'm not sure my nerves can stand to leave him in there all night

I'm so scared he'll die or something. He moves around and chirps if I talk to him or shine a flashlight, otherwise he seems to just sit and chill. His belly looks good and full, not much left inside the actual shell apart from a small clump of gunk. No crusty parts or goo on the feathers, he just looks a bit wet still. Here's what the duckling looks like now, also my brooder and the other egg that pipped but has not changed since this morning . . . If I do move him to the brooder alone any tips on what to do as it seems such a big lonely space for the one duckling? As a side note I def think my humidity was the issue with all the eggs so far so thanks for all the advice everyone

 

[WVduckchick]

Brooder looks good

You can try a stuffed animal for him to cuddle with, I've even balled up a wash cloth. Anything to snuggle against. Some folks recommend a mirror, so they think they have a friend, if you want to try it. Or just let him snuggle up on your lap in a towel

Just be ready when you pull him out, to do it quickly, but carefully, and get the lid back on the bator fast so the humidity doesn't drop much.