How long can my duckling stay in the incubator?

[Pinguanddibdab]

Hello, just had a duckling hatch a few hours ago and he is still in the incubator fluffing up. I have had a really bad hatch and unfortunately he is a lone duckling (I am picking up some friends for him day after tomorrow).

How long can I leave him in the incubator? I will have to set my heat lamp and everything up tomorrow morning for him but he was two days early and I havnt picked up any chick crumb yet.

Will he be okay without food until 12 tomorrow? I shall give him water but shall have to pick up chick crumb tomorrow morning.

Thank you x

 

[NatJ]

This is probably too late to be helpful with this duckling, but for future reference:

A just-hatched duckling should be fine in the incubator for at least 48 hours. They absorb the yolk just before they hatch, and that lets them go several days before they really need to eat. Ducklings shipped by the Post Office are expected to be fine for 72 hours (3 days & nights), and they usually are fine for that long.

This is also true for chickens, guineas, turkeys, and geese.

(Eating right away does no harm; it is just not really needed.)