If the others are pipped I would wait, if not you can probably be quick and remove the 4 hatched ones. If the pipped ones are taking long enough that you’re worried about the 4 hatched ones, you can try being quick as well. Hatched one’s should be good for 72 hours.
As far as I’m aware, 72 hours is the general guideline for hatched poultry like ducks, geese, and chickens. This is why they are able to be shipped without too much worry, they’re still working off the absorbed nutrients. I have had zero problems with goslings that were in the incubator for 48 hours, on the other hand, opening the incubator while some were pipped has cost me those. I’ll admit this year has been my first for hatching goslings (done ducks and chicks for a while now), and it has been a steep learning curve. They are much more sensitive to humidity than the other poultry. You can absolutely try to grab them quickly, maybe mist the incubator before you leave it, but I’ve had 3 goslings this year die from getting shrink wrapped unfortunately, and more didn’t make it due to too high humidity, so it’s a balance for sure. Good luck, but I will say that personally I’ve left them in for 48 hours without problems and the general rule of thumb is up to 72 hours (though I understand the nervousness)
Hi, there were 3 of us, one took the lid off incubator, one grabbed the 5 babies, and I put them in the brooder. LOL. The temp and humidity went right back up within seconds.... so I hope the other pipped eggs will be OK. (Fingers crossed). The 5 are drinking and sun bathing! So darn cute! We have 5 mature ducks and one was setting, but she'd get off the nest for a while day. Even if it was raining! She's young, so we didn't want to take a chance. Swipped her eggs for duds.
That’s hilarious!Hi, there were 3 of us, one took the lid off incubator, one grabbed the 5 babies, and I put them in the brooder. LOL. The temp and humidity went right back up within seconds.... so I hope the other pipped eggs will be OK. (Fingers crossed). The 5 are drinking and sun bathing! So darn cute! We have 5 mature ducks and one was setting, but she'd get off the nest for a while day. Even if it was raining! She's young, so we didn't want to take a chance. Swipped her eggs for duds.
I think at that speed you’re probably fine, but I’d love to know how the rest of the hatch goes!
