Baby Duckling with Pasty Butt... First-time hatcher.. PLEASE HELP

[JSelvaggi]

One of my Pekins (she's so big compared to the others), looks like she always has poop coming out. It's grey and soggy and it looks like it's hanging from her butt. I tried to wipe it earlier today but she ran away. I cleaned a little off but it was all stuck on the feathers around her butt.

BEFORE:






I did some research and check the other duckies. None had the same issue- I assume pasty butt. This is my first hatch and I have to say, I started crying because my nerves. I woke up my husband for moral support and gently wiped her as clean as I could... here's an after picture... I don't see poop but I her feathers/fur are a little clumped together- I hope only because it's wet. She wasn't very happy with me getting a last little clump of poop out. Please help someone.





As I mentioned she seemed uncomfortable and anxious towards the end. I let her rest a minute or two when she really started to nip or cheep. This was the very first egg to hatch and I'll be absolutely devastated if I don't help her and she dies.

I just watched her wake up or leave from cuddling to get water....I could be making this up in my head but I can't tell if she's walking weird. Ugh. I'm so scared.


She seemed uncomfortable and anxious towards the end. I let her rest a minute or two when she really started nipping and cheeping. This was the very first egg to hatch and I'll be absolutely devastated if I don't help her and she dies.

 

[JSelvaggi]

So I saw her poop twice. Not big poops (at least not in my eyes) BUT when she pooped, it didn't look like the poop was stuck half way out of her behind. I think that's progress right?

I had cleaned her and put a lil olive oil in the area where the poop had been but not on any skin. Is that ok?

I cried for an hour, afraid my sweet baby might die.

She seems to be a little mad or scared of me. I talked to her sweetly the whole time but I hope she won't hate me forever.

 

[Sparrow]

It could just be because of the stress of hatching. Ducklings are much more resilient than chicks, so just keep an eye on her, keep her warm and dry and I bet she will be just fine.

 

[JSelvaggi]

It could just be because of the stress of hatching. Ducklings are much more resilient than chicks, so just keep an eye on her, keep her warm and dry and I bet she will be just fine. 

I woke up this morning and there's poop stuck on her butt again. Sigh, I have no problem whatsoever doing whatever I have to to take care of her but I am so worried she'll associate me as the horrible being that kept taking her away from the others and wiping her.

 

[Sparrow]

Hmm.. Is there anything wrong visually with her vent? Is she eating and drinking and active like the others? She will forgive you for it, just make sure she gets cuddles and love as well as treatment. Ducklings are little wild things by nature anyway, so they're generally a bit suspicious. lol

 

[JSelvaggi]

Hmm.. Is there anything wrong visually with her vent? Is she eating and drinking and active like the others? She will forgive you for it, just make sure she gets cuddles and love as we. as treatment. Ducklings are little wild things by nature anyway, so they're generally a bit suspicious. lol

Thank you so much for your response Sparrow! I hope I don't sound dumb but I think I am looking for the right thing. Where she has the poop I don't see a hole. But further to the front there is a very small hole (almost looks like a belly button). Is that her vent? If so, there is nothing visually alarming about her vent that I can tell.

She does poop but when I witness it, nothing really gets stuck but I left for a couple of hours and when I returned there was poop. It almost looks like it went to come out and just stopped. Also, it almost looks more solid when its stuck versus when it comes out and doesn't get stuck, its more watery. Am I making sense? ? I am new to this but want nothing more than to take care of all of them the best I can while I have them.

She certainly is suspicious. But I absolutely give all of them loving. Especially her and as I give her treatment, my husband strokes her head and we talk to her in a loving, cooing way.

 

[Sparrow]

Awesome. On brand new babies, you will see the vent, which looks like a little horizontal slit in the skin just under the tail. If you put her butt facing you(not close, that's dangerous lol) and gently lift her tail up, you should see it. Really nondescript looking, not at all mammal-like. If you see another spot that looks kind of scabby further underneath her belly, that is her belly button where the yolk was attached. Definitely do not pick at that, it just needs to heal and fall off on it's own. Duck poop is usually more watery than chicken poop, so it is unusual that it would get stuck. She may be having a little bowel trouble. If the majority of her poop is coming out fine, I wouldn't personally be overly concerned. Apply a dab of vegetable/olive/whatever oil there after you clean her off each time to help things along.

 

[JSelvaggi]

Awesome. On brand new babies, you will see the vent, which looks like a little horizontal slit in the skin just under the tail. If you put her butt facing you(not close, that's dangerous lol) and gently lift her tail up, you should see it. Really nondescript looking, not at all mammal-like. If you see another spot that looks kind of scabby further underneath her belly, that is her belly button where the yolk was attached. Definitely do not pick at that, it just needs to heal and fall off on it's own. Duck poop is usually more watery than chicken poop, so it is unusual that it would get stuck. She may be having a little bowel trouble. If the majority of her poop is coming out fine, I wouldn't personally be overly concerned. Apply a dab of vegetable/olive/whatever oil there after you clean her off each time to help things along. 

Oops.. definitely wasn't her vent then. I think I put olive oil on her belly button. Boy, I still have so much to learn. I'd be lost without you and all the amazing people on BYC. Out of all the ducklings (I have 5) she is the only one with a runnier poop and she's also the largest. I thought maybe since she's bigger, the lamp is affecting her more and causing pasty butt. So I raised it just a little.

If you don't mind me asking 2 more questions I'd really appreciate it.

First, my big girl with the pasty butt went to lay down to sleep I was stroking her back gently and I saw a thin dried looking vein deep within her feathery/furry body. What is that?

Second, I have a smaller Pekin that when caught in the line of fire of a hyper duckling running around it often falls on its back and struggles to get up. The first 2 times I saw it happen I helped immediately. The third time (following day) I waited to see ig he could do it and did. The 4th and 5th time I waited but couldn't get up after a few seconds so I had to help because I felt like I was torturing it by watching it struggle. Is this anything I need to worry about?

Thank you again for all of your help!!!

Jen

 

[Sparrow]

Hmm...not sure on the first question. Have a hard time picturing what you mean. Is it inside of her body or just in her feathers?

Ducklings do have a hard time uprighting themselves at first, their little wings don't give them much to work with. lol Unless she starts falling over on her own, looking listless or uncoordinated, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[JSelvaggi]

It's on the outside of her body. I'll try to get a pic now.