911 dying duckling

[Sryals]

I have a Grey call duckling that hatched 4 days ago. It pip the egg but after 24hrs I helped because it was no longer doing anything. When I opened egg I could see duckling was shrink wrapped but did not die because head was out enough to breath. I opened the correct and slow way taking another 24hrs to finish the job with all yoke going into duckling and it getting the shell off itself.

started late last night I noticed only watery poo l watched duckling today. It eats drinks and talks still. Talking is less than normal and not playing with other duckling like it was b4. Now it just sits there trying to cuddle with me or other duckling looking sad. I have not seen any real discharge and not even water discharge now. When I looked at vent it’s very pale white. I pushed a little to see if I could see anything and a little thick white liquid came out. Duckling also has a foul smell around vent area.

can anyone help me?

 

[casportpony]

Oh no, I am so sorry. If it has a bad odor it could mean it has a yolk sac infection.

 

[Isaac 0]

Welcome to BYC. So sorry to hear about your duckling.

Could you post a few pictures of the duckling, and a few pictures of her navel area? A video may be helpful too. To upload a video, post it on a video platform like Youtube or Vimeo, and copy/paste the link here.

I would agree, with Casportpony, that a yolk sac infection may be likey. Party due to the smell your noticing, and the circumstances in which the duckling hatched. Baby birds, that hatch prematurely, where their navel area is still exposed are often predisposed to this condition. Since the open area acts as a "gateway" for the bacteria to enter. If there is yolk material still present, this can exacerbate the problem even more, since egg yolk is a prime growing medium for bacteria.

If her navel area is still exposed, I may try applying a small dap of an antibacterial ointment like Neosporin, or something like Iodine. Do note that I said a "small" dab. Ointments are oily, thus can affect the thermoregulatory properties of the feathers, which can subsequently lead to hypothermia.

In addition, to what I suggested above, you can try offering her mashed scrambled eggs, or maybe a soupy feed. Dripping a drop or two of a poultry vitamin, or something like Gatorade may help. Be careful not to give her too much, as birds this age easily aspirate on fluids. Keep her warm, and in a stressful free area.

If we can get some further info on her state of health that suggests more towards a yolk sac infection, you may try starting her an antibiotic. However, much I hate to say it, in most cases, chicks and ducklings this young with yolk sac infections, tend to share a very poor prognosis.

Here is some info,

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/chick-yolk-sac-infection-omphalitis

https://www.thepoultrysite.com/disease-guide/yolk-sac-infection-omphallitis

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I have a Grey call duckling that hatched 4 days ago. It pip the egg but after 24hrs I helped because it was no longer doing anything. When I opened egg I could see duckling was shrink wrapped but did not die because head was out enough to breath. I opened the correct and slow way taking another 24hrs to finish the job with all yoke going into duckling and it getting the shell off itself.

started late last night I noticed only watery poo l watched duckling today. It eats drinks and talks still. Talking is less than normal and not playing with other duckling like it was b4. Now it just sits there trying to cuddle with me or other duckling looking sad. I have not seen any real discharge and not even water discharge now. When I looked at vent it’s very pale white. I pushed a little to see if I could see anything and a little thick white liquid came out. Duckling also has a foul smell around vent area.

can anyone help me?

The white liquid is more than likely urine which is a normal excretion if you are pressing around the vent area. A couple questions:

1. How long was it between it being introduced with the other hatchlings and it hatching?

2. Have you started your ducklings on an electrolyte and vitamin supplement?

3. What feed are you using?

4. Do you have a picture of the poop?

5. Is it fully fluffed up from hatching or does it still have sticky/pasted down feathers?

6. When you say fowl smelling do you mean when you pick the duckling up you immediately smell something or was this only when you pressed on the vent?

 

[Isaac 0]

It did not go around another for two days and I had to find the other because he was my only one to hatch.
Have not done vitamins husband had me give olive oil because we saw baby tried to poop 3 times and nothing came out at all.
Fermented 18% feed with niacin
No poop to take pic of
Baby is all dry and fluffy it’s about 5 days old
I can smell when I pick up baby or when on my shoulder

I attached pictures I can’t do video. I think it’s yolk as well do to what I looked up after y’all told me on top of constipated. There is nothing I can really do is there? I can try the ointment, I don’t think baby will be with me in the morning View attachment 2370045View attachment 2370045View attachment 2370049View attachment 2370050

How is the duckling doing this morning?

If you part her down around her vent area, how does it look? Does it smell bad around the vent, or where on the body? Gently, press on her abdominal area, does if feel liquidy?

It's best that ducklings not be given oil.

At least from the photos, it does look like her abdominal area is quite swollen, so that would be another thing to point more towards a yolk sac infection. You really only have a few options, one would be to get her some antibiotics and start her on some, but there are some obvious complications with that, one is, if you don't have any on hand, it may take a week or more for them to come through the mail, and according to some of the sources I've read, such as this link,

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...agious infection,first 2 weeks after hatching.

The use of antibiotics in this type of case tends to be ineffective. As cited here,

"There is no specific treatment for omphalitis in poultry; antibiotic use is based on the prevalent bacterial type involved. Even then, treatment may not result in satisfactory outcomes, because severely affected chicks and poults often die, and unaffected birds are unlikely to be aided by antibiotic treatment. "

If you do have any antibiotics on hand, and like to try one as a last resort, let us know what you have, a picture of the bottle would be good as well. Or, however saddening it may be, it may be best to euthanize the duckling if she is acting that lethargic. If you choose to do the latter, here are some links regarding euthanasia in ducklings/chicks,

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...re-culling-the-injured-and-sick-babies.72140/

https://yarmouthvetcenter.com/euthanasia-of-backyard-poultry-in-our-office-or-at-home.pml

 

[Sryals]

How is the duckling doing this morning?

If you part her down around her vent area, how does it look? Does it smell bad around the vent, or where on the body? Gently, press on her abdominal area, does if feel liquidy?

It's best that ducklings not be given oil.

At least from the photos, it does look like her abdominal area is quite swollen, so that would be another thing to point more towards a yolk sac infection. You really only have a few options, one would be to get her some antibiotics and start her on some, but there are some obvious complications with that, one is, if you don't have any on hand, it may take a week or more for them to come through the mail, and according to some of the sources I've read, such as this link,

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/omphalitis/omphalitis-in-poultry#:~:text=Omphalitis is a noncontagious infection,first 2 weeks after hatching.

The use of antibiotics in this type of case tends to be ineffective. As cited here,

"There is no specific treatment for omphalitis in poultry; antibiotic use is based on the prevalent bacterial type involved. Even then, treatment may not result in satisfactory outcomes, because severely affected chicks and poults often die, and unaffected birds are unlikely to be aided by antibiotic treatment. "

If you do have any antibiotics on hand, and like to try one as a last resort, let us know what you have, a picture of the bottle would be good as well. Or, however saddening it may be, it may be best to euthanize the duckling if she is acting that lethargic. If you choose to do the latter, here are some links regarding euthanasia in ducklings/chicks,

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...re-culling-the-injured-and-sick-babies.72140/

https://yarmouthvetcenter.com/euthanasia-of-backyard-poultry-in-our-office-or-at-home.pml

The little duckling’s friend woke me at 2:30am crying. My duckling’s have never woken in the middle of the night. When I looked my baby was gone. I could tell it passed in its sleep. The other duckling was stressed and not sleeping no matter what I did to try to comfort it. As soon as I could I drove an hour away to Atwoods and bought duckling 2 others about the same age. Luckily 5 min after getting back in car the 3 was snuggling and “Sunday” the sad duckling was fast to sleep.

 

[Sryals]

Is there anything I could do for that? It’s bottom stays moist

 

[Sryals]

It did not go around another for two days and I had to find the other because he was my only one to hatch.
Have not done vitamins husband had me give olive oil because we saw baby tried to poop 3 times and nothing came out at all.
Fermented 18% feed with niacin
No poop to take pic of
Baby is all dry and fluffy it’s about 5 days old
I can smell when I pick up baby or when on my shoulder

 

[Sryals]

The white liquid is more than likely urine which is a normal excretion if you are pressing around the vent area. A couple questions:

1. How long was it between it being introduced with the other hatchlings and it hatching?

2. Have you started your ducklings on an electrolyte and vitamin supplement?

3. What feed are you using?

4. Do you have a picture of the poop?

5. Is it fully fluffed up from hatching or does it still have sticky/pasted down feathers?

6. When you say fowl smelling do you mean when you pick the duckling up you immediately smell something or was this only when you pressed on the vent?

It did not go around another for two days and I had to find the other because he was my only one to hatch.
Have not done vitamins husband had me give olive oil because we saw baby tried to poop 3 times and nothing came out at all.
Fermented 18% feed with niacin
No poop to take pic of
Baby is all dry and fluffy it’s about 5 days old
I can smell when I pick up baby or when on my shoulder

 

[Sryals]

Welcome to BYC. So sorry to hear about your duckling.

Could you post a few pictures of the duckling, and a few pictures of her navel area? A video may be helpful too. To upload a video, post it on a video platform like Youtube or Vimeo, and copy/paste the link here.

I would agree, with Casportpony, that a yolk sac infection may be likey. Party due to the smell your noticing, and the circumstances in which the duckling hatched. Baby birds, that hatch prematurely, where their navel area is still exposed are often predisposed to this condition. Since the open area acts as a "gateway" for the bacteria to enter. If there is yolk material still present, this can exacerbate the problem even more, since egg yolk is a prime growing medium for bacteria.

If her navel area is still exposed, I may try applying a small dap of an antibacterial ointment like Neosporin, or something like Iodine. Do note that I said a "small" dab. Ointments are oily, thus can affect the thermoregulatory properties of the feathers, which can subsequently lead to hypothermia.

In addition, to what I suggested above, you can try offering her mashed scrambled eggs, or maybe a soupy feed. Dripping a drop or two of a poultry vitamin, or something like Gatorade may help. Be careful not to give her too much, as birds this age easily aspirate on fluids. Keep her warm, and in a stressful free area.

If we can get some further info on her state of health that suggests more towards a yolk sac infection, you may try starting her an antibiotic. However, much I hate to say it, in most cases, chicks and ducklings this young with yolk sac infections, tend to share a very poor prognosis.

Here is some info,

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/chick-yolk-sac-infection-omphalitis

https://www.thepoultrysite.com/disease-guide/yolk-sac-infection-omphallitis

Welcome to BYC. So sorry to hear about your duckling.

Could you post a few pictures of the duckling, and a few pictures of her navel area? A video may be helpful too. To upload a video, post it on a video platform like Youtube or Vimeo, and copy/paste the link here.

I would agree, with Casportpony, that a yolk sac infection may be likey. Party due to the smell your noticing, and the circumstances in which the duckling hatched. Baby birds, that hatch prematurely, where their navel area is still exposed are often predisposed to this condition. Since the open area acts as a "gateway" for the bacteria to enter. If there is yolk material still present, this can exacerbate the problem even more, since egg yolk is a prime growing medium for bacteria.

If her navel area is still exposed, I may try applying a small dap of an antibacterial ointment like Neosporin, or something like Iodine. Do note that I said a "small" dab. Ointments are oily, thus can affect the thermoregulatory properties of the feathers, which can subsequently lead to hypothermia.

In addition, to what I suggested above, you can try offering her mashed scrambled eggs, or maybe a soupy feed. Dripping a drop or two of a poultry vitamin, or something like Gatorade may help. Be careful not to give her too much, as birds this age easily aspirate on fluids. Keep her warm, and in a stressful free area.

If we can get some further info on her state of health that suggests more towards a yolk sac infection, you may try starting her an antibiotic. However, much I hate to say it, in most cases, chicks and ducklings this young with yolk sac infections, tend to share a very poor prognosis.

Here is some info,

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/chick-yolk-sac-infection-omphalitis

https://www.thepoultrysite.com/disease-guide/yolk-sac-infection-omphallitis

I attached pictures I can’t do video. I think it’s yolk as well do to what I looked up after y’all told me on top of constipated. There is nothing I can really do is there? I can try the ointment, I don’t think baby will be with me in the morning