Call duck hatching newbie

[RafterB_ranch]

Ricky-Bobby (first to hatch), Forest (longest in the mug), and Oogway (last to hatch)

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Hatch is complete. 7 out of 9 developed eggs hatched.
wanted to share the experience of my last two hatched in case anyone else has the same thing happen.
both were incubated at a cooler temp with extra humidity, I did not realize this until too late (use multiple thermometers people). So when both hatched 3 days overdue, they could not stand up and only could lay on their sides and paddle their feet out behind them. This was definitely not the same way that the other 5 healthy ducks moved when first hatched. My husband started researching humane ways to euthanize just in case, I started researching how to help cold hatched ducks that couldn’t stay on their bellies. Cue the duck-in-a-mug method.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...stand-keeps-flipping-over-need-advice.409555/
I put both ducks in regular size coffee mugs with paper towel at the bottom and left in the brooder for 5 hours (overnight). Leaving them out there alone was likely not the best solution but it’s what I was physically and mentally capable of doing at the time.
when I checked at 5:30 am the next morning, two beautiful faces were looking at me hopeful that mug time was done.
the one duck was able to stay on its belly and make small steps at that point so it got to come out, the other duck (malpositioned hatch) was still sticking legs out behind so went back in the mug for another hour.
I made an electrolyte/vitamin mix and mashed with a bit of food and made sure the two ate every hour for the first 6 hours.
1 day later and they’re running and jumping around. So thankful to have found that advice, I do not doubt they would not have made it if not for spending the night in a mug.

takeaway: hatch your ducks at the right temperature. If it’s too late to solve a temperature issue, consider the duck-in-a-mug method.
Ideally the ducks could stay in the incubator in the mugs, however mine was too short to accommodate a mug. I would suggest more supervision than what I was able to provide in the brooder, especially if you have more babies already running around.

cheers to our babies!

I have a pretty good incubator I think, it's the nurture right 360. And I've still had to put some in a cup for a bit until they are able to stay upright. It just happens sometimes.
Good job!

 

[RafterB_ranch]

I have a pretty good incubator I think, it's the nurture right 360. And I've still had to put some in a cup for a bit until they are able to stay upright. It just happens sometimes.
Good job!

Thank you for all your advice and help! So glad to finally have the incubator unplugged and duckies in hand.