4 day old weak, small duckling...

[Murduck]

Thank you!!! I will keep this in mind and not be forceful... the last thing I want it is to make her miserable or worse...

 

[Ravynscroft]

I think you're doing just fine!

If you haven't gotten Nutridrench, I do still recommend it... for her!!

 

[Pyxis]

Yeah, NutriDrench is the best stuff. I keep it on hand and give it to all my new hatchlings for their first week, and shipped babies always get it in their water and ones looking a bit poorly get a couple drops directly. It is amazing stuff. It gets right into their bloodstream with no need to digest it, so the response is usually pretty quick.

 

[gilbert2]

As a heat source, I have always used infra-red bulbs in metal fixtures that have clip-on ends. I know it is a bit expensive on the electric bill, but my ducklings have always been worth it.

 

[Murduck]

Update: I think she is going to be fine! She is eating and drinking lots now! I think she is even getting a little bigger. She is still way behind the other girls but getting more active and not letting them push her out of the food and water. I am definitely going to find some of that nutridrench stuff. What a learning curve the first brood is, even with months of research and multiple books. It feels like no matter what, I couldn't have been fully prepared for this, especially with so much contradicting information out there on the internet... but I now feel like I have stepped up to the plate and am proud of myself for getting little Lelu through this.

 

[Pyxis]

Fantastic! So glad she's doing better!

 

[DogsDucks&Cat]

Unfortunately we lost a female Welsh Harlequin that we'd ordered from Metzer... just a few hours after picking them up at the post office, she was noticeably smaller than the other two ducklings, wasn't eating or drinking much, staying still, etc. She passed the next day. My boyfriend tried getting food and water into her with a kitten feeding dropper but to no avail. I think she was probably weak from the start and the shipping was just too much. Wishing you all the best with your little baby!

 

[Ravynscroft]

Fantastic! So glad she's doing better!

X2!!
Great news!

 

[Debs Flock]

Update: I think she is going to be fine! She is eating and drinking lots now! I think she is even getting a little bigger. She is still way behind the other girls but getting more active and not letting them push her out of the food and water. I am definitely going to find some of that nutridrench stuff. What a learning curve the first brood is, even with months of research and multiple books. It feels like no matter what, I couldn't have been fully prepared for this, especially with so much contradicting information out there on the internet... but I now feel like I have stepped up to the plate and am proud of myself for getting little Lelu through this.

Thanks for the update! Very happy to hear it!

Unfortunately we lost a female Welsh Harlequin that we'd ordered from Metzer... just a few hours after picking them up at the post office, she was noticeably smaller than the other two ducklings, wasn't eating or drinking much, staying still, etc. She passed the next day. My boyfriend tried getting food and water into her with a kitten feeding dropper but to no avail. I think she was probably weak from the start and the shipping was just too much. Wishing you all the best with your little baby!

Sorry for your loss!