4 ducklings hatched without eyes?!?

[casportpony]

I've searched a bit and cannot find anything about eyeless ducklings or chicks, but I remember someone here on BYC having an explanation. Was it @R2elk, @ChickenCanoe, or @sourland? I think one of you said something about incubation temps in the first few days or two weeks.

 

[Pyxis]

Hi! I'm gonna post this on both threads.

If your incubation temperature is too high or oxygen too low for days 1 through 6, this can cause chicks to hatch with no eyes. I'd assume the same can happen with ducklings, though the time frame might be different.

Also, very high levels of selenium have also been known to cause missing eyes.

http://ufdc.ufl.edu/IR00004437/00001

It could of course also be a genetic defect, something that the parents are passing on.

Whether or not you keep them or cull them depends on whether you're okay with having three special needs ducks. Can you keep them separated if need be? And can you keep the males and females separate to keep them from breeding, in case this is genetic? Those are things to consider. You also might be able to give them away to someone who can provide for their needs, if you aren't able to.

 

[casportpony]

Hi! I'm gonna post this on both threads.

If your incubation temperature is too high or oxygen too low for days 1 through 6, this can cause chicks to hatch with no eyes. I'd assume the same can happen with ducklings, though the time frame might be different.

Also, very high levels of selenium have also been known to cause missing eyes.

http://ufdc.ufl.edu/IR00004437/00001

It could of course also be a genetic defect, something that the parents are passing on.

Whether or not you keep them or cull them depends on whether you're okay with having three special needs ducks. Can you keep them separated if need be? And can you keep the males and females separate to keep them from breeding, in case this is genetic? Those are things to consider. You also might be able to give them away to someone who can provide for their needs, if you aren't able to.

This is exactly the sort of info I was looking for!

Gonna bookmark this one!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The primary cause is high temperature during the first week.
It can be from low oxygen the first week but that is unlikely since during that time, the embryos may experience significantly higher CO2 levels without a problem. That's one of the reasons why some manufacturers instructions are to keep the plugs in then. Embryo metabolism and therefor O2 demand is very low during the first 10 days.
Very high selenium can cause missing eyes too but again, that is unlikely. Low selenium is much more common in avian diets.

I'm expecting problems with my current setting if they survive at all. About 18 hours in, the temperature went to 105.4 F for an undetermined amount of time.

The effects of variables during incubation as well as nutritional anomalies is virtually the same for most avian species and especially of precocial species like waterfowl and poultry.

 

[casportpony]

The primary cause is high temperature during the first week.
It can be from low oxygen the first week but that is unlikely since during that time, the embryos benefit from a bit higher CO2 levels. That's one of the reasons why some manufacturers instructions are to keep the plugs in then.
Very high selenium can cause missing eyes too but again, that is unlikely. Low selenium is much more common in avian diets.

I'm expecting problems with my current setting if they survive at all. About 18 hours in, the temperature went to 105.4 F for an undetermined amount of time.

The effects of variables during incubation as well as nutritional anomalies is virtually the same for most avian species and especially of precocial species like waterfowl and poultry.

Thanks a bunch!

Gonna bookmark this one too!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

... Gonna bookmark this one too!

I edited the post to include that the effects of deviations from recommended parameters during incubation as well as nutritional anomalies is virtually the same for most avian species and especially of precocial species like waterfowl and poultry.

 

[TSOWOATNKC]

One of my Toulouse has a missing eye. Jack is quite sweet. I have noticed that his muscle development is a bit uneven in relation to the missing eye; that entire side seems to be slightly underdeveloped.

 

[Pyxis]

View attachment 1533060 View attachment 1533061 This is exactly the sort of info I was looking for! View attachment 1533059 View attachment 1533058 Gonna bookmark this one!

That PDF is great for diagnosing what might have caused a lot of congenital issues that chicks hatch with, it's very handy There are some cool things in there; it also discusses what causes things such as entirely missing beaks, exposed brains, and dwarfism. Very interesting stuff.

For those that may not know what a congenital issue is, a congenital disorder is a condition that is present at or before birth. These conditions, also referred to as birth defects, can be acquired during the fetal stage of development or from the genetic make up of the parents. They are caused by genetic or environmental problems. If you hatch a chick or duckling that's not entirely normal, something has gone wrong somewhere, and this PDF can help you figure out what.

 

[casportpony]

That PDF is great for diagnosing what might have caused a lot of congenital issues that chicks hatch with, it's very handy There are some cool things in there; it also discusses what causes things such as entirely missing beaks, exposed brains, and dwarfism. Very interesting stuff.

For those that may not know what a congenital issue is, a congenital disorder is a condition that is present at or before birth. These conditions, also referred to as birth defects, can be acquired during the fetal stage of development or from the genetic make up of the parents. They are caused by genetic or environmental problems. If you hatch a chick or duckling that's not entirely normal, something has gone wrong somewhere, and this PDF can help you figure out what.

Excellent info! Just in case that link goes away I saved the pdf to my drive and am adding it as an attachment here:

 

[Raenh]

I want them, if you decide not to keep them. Have absolutely no idea how to get them, but Mom's rules can bite. I'm deaf. I don't mind imperfections or special needs. That was one of the reasons I picked the first fancy successor <RIP>, his flipper was missing bits - Speedy's one flipper has a small pin size hole in it.

My deafness is congenital on my left side - nerves never connected and on my right side, it is hereditary.