Da' Cute and Cuddly Call Duck thread!

[casportpony]

Quote: I have dealt with many sticky or shrink wrapped eggs, so I do know the difference.

So speaking from my experiences here, I can say that all neurological problems in ducklings I have seen have been from dehydration and/or yolk sac infections. Of course most people aren't set up to do fluids or tube feeding, nor are they likely to have Baytril, which would be my first choice for an antibiotic if I suspected a yolk sac infection, but they should be able to give drops of fluids orally.

Gotta add the 72 hour thing to one of my misinformation lists.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Here are my two problem children:


Little chocolate pipped internally five days ago, then I pipped it externally 24 hours later because it was slowing down. For those that hatch lots, I think you know what I mean.

I let it sit for another 24, then peeled away some of the shell and saw it still had a *huge* yolk. I thought seriously about culling it, but decided to leave in in a cup. So it sat in the cup for a couple of days and the yolk hadn't really gotten smaller, and now it was starting to smell like a rotten egg. I then rinsed off the nastiness and poured chlorhexidine over the yolk and abdominal area. Since there was a risk of a yolk sac infection I gave it 1mg of Baytril orally and have been giving it fluids as often as possible as well.

Do I have medical training? No, but I do have lots of experience giving fluids via a tube, syringe or subcutaneously as well as picking out proper doses of medications for all types of waterfowl and poultry.

If anyone here wants to learn how to tube, just get the tube, and I can teach you. No reason anyone should ever have to pay a vet to tube feed for them. This link has four great videos on tube feeding, three are from vets: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/805728/go-team-tube-feeding#post_12336208

-Kathy

 

[18angovem]

Here are my two problem children:


Little chocolate pipped internally five days ago, then I pipped it externally 24 hours later because it was slowing down. For those that hatch lots, I think you know what I mean.

I let it sit for another 24, then peeled away some of the shell and saw it still had a *huge* yolk. I thought seriously about culling it, but decided to leave in in a cup. So it sat in the cup for a couple of days and the yolk hadn't really gotten smaller, and now it was starting to smell like a rotten egg. I then rinsed off the nastiness and poured chlorhexidine over the yolk and abdominal area. Since there was a risk of a yolk sac infection I gave it 1mg of Baytril orally and have been giving it fluids as often as possible as well.

So did it end up absorbing it all by himself?

 

[casportpony]

Quote: It's almost all gone now... I truly thought this one would be dead *days* ago, which was why I almost culled it. And the smell, that was unreal, it was just like those nasty rotten eggs. Of course I'll never know for sure what treatment(s) made a difference... could be the fluids, could be the Baytril. FWIW, I'm about to tube some fluids both of them, 'cause doing a couple of drops every 15 minutes is getting old, lol.

The other one also has a funny looking umbilicus, so I might give it some Baytrll.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Note that it's weight was 45 grams yesterday and today it's down to 38 grams.

-Kathy

 

[Julie Birb]

I GOT MY LITTLE YELLOW BABY!!! I FINALLY GOT IT!!! AND, I AM SO VERY HAPPY!!!

Praying for a little girl! Going to have **hopefully her** sexed in a couple of days! Haha, so does it look like a little Snowy or a White call?

Weebeep, so cute, adorable and precious.

 

[Ledgewood7]

Thanks to everyone that replied.

I should first of all apoligize that I scared everyone I was letting them dehydrate. I was giving them pedylite through and eyedropper the minute I started to assist on day 27 and every few hours since. I know what a lifesaver it can be have used in other hatches for chickens, etc and even for rabbits when I used to raise Holland Lops.

The babies are doing better in just one afternoon. Two are even walking a little before stumbling. I'm still pretty concerned with the third as one leg is VERY weak but my daughter is working with him now. I will try to get a hold of antibiotics and vitamins.

I'm sharing a pic of two - I appreciate all the concern!

 

[Julie Birb]

Thanks to everyone that replied. I should first of all apoligize that I scared everyone I was letting them dehydrate. I was giving them pedylite through and eyedropper the minute I started to assist on day 27 and every few hours since. I know what a lifesaver it can be have used in other hatches for chickens, etc and even for rabbits when I used to raise Holland Lops. The babies are doing better in just one afternoon. Two are even walking a little before stumbling. I'm still pretty concerned with the third as one leg is VERY weak but my daughter is working with him now. I will try to get a hold of antibiotics and vitamins. I'm sharing a pic of two - I appreciate all the concern!

oh my word, they are so cute it's not funny. I hope for success with your 3rd. Keep us updated.

 

[casportpony]

oh my word, they are so cute it's not funny. I hope for success with your 3rd. Keep us updated.

They sure are!

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Thanks to everyone that replied.

I should first of all apoligize that I scared everyone I was letting them dehydrate. I was giving them pedylite through and eyedropper the minute I started to assist on day 27 and every few hours since. I know what a lifesaver it can be have used in other hatches for chickens, etc and even for rabbits when I used to raise Holland Lops.

The babies are doing better in just one afternoon. Two are even walking a little before stumbling. I'm still pretty concerned with the third as one leg is VERY weak but my daughter is working with him now. I will try to get a hold of antibiotics and vitamins.

I'm sharing a pic of two - I appreciate all the concern!

Glad to see they are doing better! Good thinking on your part to get them going on fluids from the beginning, 'cause many people assume it's not necessary. Do you have a kitchen scale? If not, you might want to go to Walmart or Target and get one, then get a weight on them first thing every morning. It the first 72 hours some loss is to be expected as they process their yolks, but one they start eating, they should make daily gains.

The Baytril I use can be found in this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959119/baytril-enrofloxacin-sources

For small birds, chicks, ducklings, etc, the 10% stuff needs to be diluted, then the dose needs to be calculated based on the dilution and the weigh of your duckling. If you decide to get Baytril, let me know and I can help you with dilution and dosing.

Do you have a Nutri-Drench? It's a poultry multi vitamin that might be worth getting.

-Kathy