3 day old duckling with yuck eye straight out of shipment...

[DuckyDoodles]

Just got my two female Cayugas in the mail today (ordered from Metzer farms). Hatched on Monday, arrived here early this Wednesday morning.

Straight out of the box, I’ve got one duckling that seems to have a gunky/crusty eye. Both eyes look a bit ‘meh’ but the left eye is the worse for wear.

They’re both on the tiny side. I don’t know that their weight is concerning because the Cayugas are just a tough smaller than my other ‘meat’ birds anyways. I’ve got them drinking electrolyte water and eating but I made their food into a mash unlike the Swede quartet because they’re just so small and I’m worried (with the eye thing) they might need an extra boost.

So... I know there’s sinus issues that can happen, I understand it could just be eye goop, etc. It DID seem to mildly get better once they had some water on their face but there’s still some gnarly crusties. Should I give them a warm bath (in shallow water with strict supervision followed by care for dry/warm ending) to see if it can get loosened up? I have a waterer dispenser deep enough for them to submerge face.

What do you guys think? First two pics are pre-water drinking. Last pic is the “improvement” after about 5 minutes of access to water. I was worried so I didn’t delay in snapping pic to present to you guys LOL

P.S. I was curious to see if the other 4 would pick on the new girls if I integrated them into the flock. Their pickin’s don’t seem horribly violent but with the newcomers being smaller and maybe weaker, I wasn’t comfortable leaving them in there. Which is sad because while they seem to be a bit of loners (lol in the less than 1 hour I’ve had them...I could be wrong) they DID want to snuggle with the Swedes. And the Swedes didn’t urgently pick on them but as soon as one of the Cayugas would move, then it’s like they excitedly pecked them.

So I’ve separated them (which I probably should’ve done in the first place, I just figured a week wasn’t THAT much of a difference and also that the babies would enjoy some companions.

 

[DuckyDoodles]

Wanted to add that there’s no visible signs of lethargy, they’re eating and drinking like the little duckling pigs I expect and there’s no head shaking, mouth activity or sneezing.

The eyes just look pitiful

 

[WVduckchick]

A little warm bath and blow-dry is fine, if its affecting vision. Even a wet cotton ball, wipe the area. Its probably just from the shipping stress and being packed in a box for a couple days. Personally, I'd give it a few hours, observe, see if it otherwise seems ok. They are very good at preening the "gunk" off of themselves and each other, so the bath may not even be necessary. Just make sure they have water deep enough to scoop or dip their entire bill and clear the nare holes.

Cutie patooties!

eta - after looking at the pic again, the one nare looks a little clogged. I'd definitely try to get that part cleared.

 

[Miss Lydia]

First of all call Metzers so they know and can advise. Then make up a saline rinse 1/8 tea of salt to a cup of warm water. Take a soft cloth and gently wash the crud away. Wrap baby in small towel to keep still and warm while you work. Hopefully that will take care of it. It's a very mild solution of salt water so won't sting or burn.

They are adorable, Congrats!!

 

[Redhead Rae]

No advice, but I peeked in as requested.

So cute!

 

[DuckyDoodles]

As always, you guys are invaluable. I tried the warm water and cotton ball option but that crust was not budging and without hurting the poor baby. So Grumpy and I drew a warm sink bath and soaked and rubbed and soaked and rubbed. There’s still one little spot of crusties I couldn’t get off but I *genuinely* felt terrible about it all. Stressing them out on their first day here is not what I want. I didn’t do it to the Swede Quartet and certainly don’t want to stress them out more than already has been. But I feel like getting on top of whatever caused the crusties is best. Because at least this way I can monitor to see if it’s still crusting or if it was just dry eyes from the trip, the clogged hole, etc.,

Now, this being said, I still intend to contact Metzer Farms about the poor girl. Even if it was just a stressed eye goop, like y’all said, maybe they will have some pointers.

Should I email or call you think?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd call you'd probably hear faster than waiting for email.

 

[DuckyDoodles]

So after my Neurology appointment kicked butt and took no prisoners (2+ hours of my life) when I tried to call Metzer, they were presumably already closed as no one answered. I left a message but I will likely be calling back tomorrow because....

Well, something’s amiss. She doesn’t sit/lay like her hatchmate, she is tilting her head and getting really close to objects she’s trying to see, and when she attempts to gobble it up or slurp the water down, she’s missing it. There’s been no resurgence (so far) of the crusties but she also doesn’t seem to be making any vast visual improvement in her eye areas.

She *is* eating and she *is* taking in water but not a lot. Not like what I think she should be. She is non-stop chirping/peeping and then every now and then she’ll do this little moon walk thing.

I’ve looked up star gazer/wry neck; neither of those fit on the nose.

I’ve looked up sinus and eye infections and it’s close but still just not quite there.

So I’m going to keep going down the BYC/Internet rabbit hole in search of related cause.

That said, if she’s pert bear blind, I won’t care. I mean I don’t know how much of a life a blind duck could have (both eyes are affected, not just one) but I love my ‘underdogs’ and I’m so emotionlly invested that I would never consider any other options.

I’m just concerned that it’s not *just* her being potentially blind but that there’s something else wrong.

I love her so much already... it’s just giving me a pit in my stomach worrying about her. Grumpy is even concerned about the poor baby because she’s just-non-stop with the peeping; the wobbly state of her constantly-standing-never-to-sit posture.

Dang feelings, poor baby, etc.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I'm sorry to say this, but its sounds like she has development issues. They might be able to be treated by supplements. The other people who responded before will be better able to help with ducks. Do you have any nutridrench? That helps when I have chicks with similar issues, particularly with coordination. I'd give it one pure drop on the beak and see if it helps.

 

[WVduckchick]

x2 with the Nutridrench! Good stuff!