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Should I help my ducklings hatch?

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First Post Posted on: 04-14-13 02:59 PM
I am confused. Some say it is not a problem to help the ducklings hatch out from the egg once it pips. But some say it is not advisable. I am here to seek advice from experienced hands. Also, how long should the ducklings remain in the incubator after hatching. When should I move the ducklings to a brooding box?

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Reply #: 1 Posted on: 04-15-13 06:15 AM
its not advisable to help them hatch. i know it looks like they're having such a hard time but sometimes even though they're hatching the yolk hasnt completely resorbed into the body. Sometimes it takes a couple days for them to hatch. Just watch them and make sure the humidity is up so they can get out of the shell. if after a couple days they still haven't made progress then maybe..gently take a couple pieces from around where hes broken through and see..but if you see blood..stop..i've helped a couple..but only after they'd tried so hard i started to get worried..and really i just broke it enough to make it easier for them..i've never broken it out all the way because it's not necessary. or in my case it wasn't. Leave them in the incubator till they're dry and fluffy and then move them to the brooder...take the egg shells out after he's hatched.

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ducklings in the brooding box

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Reply #: 2 Posted on: 04-16-13 08:22 PM
How long these ducklings should be in the brooding box?

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Reply #: 3 Posted on: 04-17-13 10:51 AM
ok, in the brooding box, i always put the heat lamp on one side and high enough that there is part of the brooder that doesn't have the heat lamp over it. That way if they get too warm they can move away from the heat source, when I notice that they start sleeping all huddled together away from the heat source then i turn off the light..that is about a week or two...then i keep mine in the pen until they feather..I start putting my babies out in a pen during the day after about 10 days or so with a small pan of water so they can spash aroung..i say small..like at first i use either a pie plate..or one of those tin throw away containers that you can buy for a couple bucks..something that just has a couple inches of water and make certain the sides are low enough they can get out because they will drown. and i put the food out. I happen to have a movable sort of playpen thing..it's for rabbits, ducks ets..it has no top and no bottom so when they're a couple weeks old..it's the perfect size to introduce them to outside..let them forage and play ets. Anyhow..i went off on a tangent and babbled..lol I hope this answered your question. The short answer is..in the brooder for a couple weeks..in a pen until they feather..(i say in a pen, assuming you are going to let them free roam, as mine do..many people dont. if you have an outside pen that they'll be living in rather than free roam..then I'd say they can go into that once they are fully feathered

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Reply #: 4 Posted on: 04-18-13 05:26 AM
My baby ducks hatched.. We just let nature take its course, each hatched on its own... And shicks, as you said, I have leaving them inside the incubator for 1 day.. Appreciate all your help!! The duck that hatched first seems to be a bit frisky!! Playful and full of energy!! I am bit tensed, will it stumble upon any other baby ducks and hurt the ducklings as the space inside the incubator is limited?

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Reply #: 5 Posted on: 04-18-13 06:03 AM
well, if he's getting too rambuncious and you're afraid, you can move him to the brooder as long as you have the heat lamp on, i've done it before when i thought he was going to play tennis with the other eggs. but if you watch, sometimes if other ducks are hatching..the ducklings that have already hatched but are still wet will actually try to help them out..they'll start pecking at the shell and tugging at the membrane and such. He won't hurt anything..but if you think he'll hurt himself them you can move him..like i said just make sure he's nice and warm so he doesn't get a chill while he's still a little wet..just don't move them for at least a couple hours while they're really wet from the egg

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