[Sharondp]

This will teach me not to go to work when the eggs are hatching in the incubator

The last (I'm assuming) chick to hatch in the incubator was very dry as the humidity levels had gone right down, and it has dried on 'gunk' on it. Can I wash it? I've left it in the incubator with humidity levels up (Other chicks have all sucessfully been transferred to broody hen)

I was going to wash it and pop it back in the incubator, then sneak it under mum when it had fluffed up?

Any thoughts?

[jameslindsay]

I have had this before and always left it and the other ducklngs, in my case, have done the cleaning for me.

[Sharondp]

Hmmm - this 'gunk' is dried on solid and I would imagine it would be quite painful for it to have all the other chicks pecking at him - their beaks are a bit pointier than ducks! I'm not going to pick it off - it would leave the chick looking somewhat 'oven ready'! 

[shetlandpaul]

warm water on cotton wool should get it off. but just dont let it get cold. make sure the gunk is not going to interfer with its wing or leg growth.