Day old duckling unable to stand

[Aria9871]

It’s our first time hatching ducks. We have one baby duck that hatched Friday day 24 that is doing well. Our second duckling hatched this morning on Monday day 27, but needed help. She had her head out and one foot out and was spinning in circles knocking into all the other eggs. I helped her out gently, the shell and membrane was kind of stuck to her back, but there was no blood and her yolk was totally absorbed. Now she is in the brooder and stuck on her back with her feet in the air kicking, or laying on her side kicking in circles. She has good energy and has good strength in her legs when I tip her up to stand but she just kicks right onto her back again. So I am worried about her and also worried that she may have disoriented all the other eggs by bumping them, none of the others have piped yet. Is there anything I should do for this baby or the others? Should I isolate her and have both ducklings alone for now?

 

[Canadian Wind]

Is her fluff dry yet? If so, she can be moved to the brooder and you can supervise her there. I had a little one that got overheated after hatch (stupid a/c broke and the incubator got too hot!) and acted similarly. She is perfectly fine now, although I was worried she had neurological damage for a few days. She grew up into a lovely young duck.

 

[Aria9871]

Thank you for your reply! She is all fluffed up and in the brooder and she is still unable to get to her feet. She is still just laying on her back/side and kicking. Even when I hold her upright she just flips on her back when I let go. I was doing some searching, can a baby duck be born with toxoplasmosis?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

She needs a good dose of vitamins. I hatch every spring and any assisted hatch I have had has always required extra vitamins to get their legs under them. I use Poultry Cell which can be found at most farm stores. I have had ducklings go from on their back and flopping like a fish to walking with the help of Poultry cell. If you are going to move to a brooder I suggest putting your duckling in a small clear plastic container until she finds her legs to prevent trampling.

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ck-spinning-in-circles.1522479/#post-25641958 post #7

 

[Aria9871]

Thank you for your your replies, I just picked up the poultry cell, should I just mix some in with their water or try to have the sick baby take a few sips of it straight?

Idk if the sock method would work, she doesn’t look dizzy like that baby in the video did. But I may try it if the poultry cell doesn’t work.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’m not sure how it should be given what does it say on the bottle?
@HollowOfWisps[/USER
Do you have a small syringe? If so give tiny drops along the bill or put in water. For one that’s weak it would probably be best to use it straight.
No needle

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Thank you for your your replies, I just picked up the poultry cell, should I just mix some in with their water or try to have the sick baby take a few sips of it straight?

Idk if the sock method would work, she doesn’t look dizzy like that baby in the video did. But I may try it if the poultry cell doesn’t work.

You can dose orally if comfortable with a needless syringe by placing a drop at a time on the inside of the bill and letting the duckling chew in-between. If I am giving orally via syringe i give .25cc a day. I also have just added 1tsp to a small cup of water and held the duckling while letting them drink.

 

[Aria9871]

Thank you everyone, I have given her a few sips of the poultry cell straight from a little cup and mixed some in with their water too, I don’t have a syringe but will get one tomorrow. Now I have her wrapped in a sock trying to keep her sitting upright to get her balance like I saw in the video you sent. I had tried putting her in a mug to sit like I saw in another video but she just flung herself right out of it. She is still very strong, drinking the water when I put her bill in it and kicking like crazy when she is out of the sock.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hopefully, you see a big improvement today with what your doing!