Khaki Campbell Duckling - Hatching Early

[emhartner]

This is all happening too fast. We just had one duckling hatch three days early and are not sure what to do (this is our first time and we are not quite ready for this). Do we take it out and put it in the brooder? Leave it in the incubator for a while (how long)? If we do leave it in the incubator for a while, should we take the egg shell out? The duckling is stumbling around quite a bit - but I suppose this is normal. I'm just concerned about it bumping into the other eggs. Also - when should we offer it water? Food?

We've also read at some places to keep the duck in the incubator for 12-24 hours but put it in a small Tupperware like container with a paper towel in the bottom. Is this what we should do - or leave it be and let it move as it wants?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Eric

 

[Amiga]

I have read that they need to stay in the incubator till they dry off a little.

@madamiec @Lacrystol are hatchers (there are many on the Duck Forum, actually). There are some threads you might want to look at to see who's hatching, perhaps check in with them.

 

[Lacrystol]

This is all happening too fast. We just had one duckling hatch three days early and are not sure what to do (this is our first time and we are not quite ready for this). Do we take it out and put it in the brooder? Leave it in the incubator for a while (how long)? If we do leave it in the incubator for a while, should we take the egg shell out? The duckling is stumbling around quite a bit - but I suppose this is normal. I'm just concerned about it bumping into the other eggs. Also - when should we offer it water? Food?

We've also read at some places to keep the duck in the incubator for 12-24 hours but put it in a small Tupperware like container with a paper towel in the bottom. Is this what we should do - or leave it be and let it move as it wants?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Eric

OK The tupperware container with paper towel is a first that I have heard. LOL

You should always be prepared, Sounds like your temp soared up there or possibly to high??? I personally leave mine in my incubator for at least 24 hours to make sure he's completely dried, It's ok that he tosses the other eggs around, it's not going to hurt them it's only going to INSPIRE them. You see once you get one out which you have, then it's like dominos, boom, boom boom, But in your case it's may not be quite like that, because he's early..

Leave the shell in there, you don't want to open that bator right now. keep it closed as much as you can..

make sure your brooder room is about 95 degrees for him, Water and food, he can go Three days without food and water but we DO NOT want him to go that long. Wait the 24 hours put him in the brooder room, have water ready and get some Vitamin B complete put One pill per quart for him, Grind up the food. Now, here's the hard part, YOU have to teach him how to eat and drink. To drink you can do two things, wiggle your finger in the water to get him curious or get a dropper and make drips. The food, you have to put your finger in it and let him peck it off your finger or drop it in front of him so that he goes after it.

OR you can quack like a momma duck, LOL NO JUST KIDDING... A little advise, avoid swimming lessons for at LEAST a week, he's got to produce his own oils now, he doesnt have a momma duck to put the oils on him so keep him away from swimming, he can put his feet in it but that's about all.

Good luck, if you have any other questions fire away

 

[emhartner]

The reason why the TupperWare container came into play was that this duckling was so early and I didn't want it to interfere with the other eggs. Also - note that according to the thermometer - the termperature never exceeded 99.5 - so I don't think this is the reason for the early hatching. Now we have 4 hatched - and two left in eggs. So it these ones hatched on days 24/25. Perhaps the two remaining will be closer to the 28 days (Saturday).

 

[Lacrystol]

The reason why the TupperWare container came into play was that this duckling was so early and I didn't want it to interfere with the other eggs. Also - note that according to the thermometer - the termperature never exceeded 99.5 - so I don't think this is the reason for the early hatching. Now we have 4 hatched - and two left in eggs. So it these ones hatched on days 24/25. Perhaps the two remaining will be closer to the 28 days (Saturday).

Well the tupperware and paper towel is only going to raise your humdity, me personally, I would pass on it, they are good to go for three days, right now your first one, should be fluffed up and ready to go in the brooder box, make sure you have a stuffed animal or a mirror, ducks don't like to be a lone. Once the others fluff up, then you can take those away. HUM, high temps usually are the cause of early birds or unless the days are off. I do know with mine, I usually get an early bird but only because I will put a heater in my room... this will change things.. Hopefully now that you have so many out, the last two will speed it up. LOL. Come on little buggers it's your turn..

 

[Lacrystol]

There is ONE RULE to this game though that I haven't mention.


PICTURES??? WHERE ARE THE PICTURES... lol