Duck Air Sac Duck, Duck

[Quackmomma]

Thank you! I needed a little positivity!

 

[Quackmomma]

When you say yawning.... Hes opening and closing his bill pretty quickly but not a lot, along with wiggling and chirping on his side. I'm hopeful this is absorption? Hes kicked the egg lower so only his bum and yolk is in there.

 

[Ravynscroft]

When you say yawning.... Hes opening and closing his bill pretty quickly but not a lot, along with wiggling and chirping on his side. I'm hopeful this is absorption? Hes kicked the egg lower so only his bum and yolk is in there.

Yes, the opening and closing when he doesn't peep... sounds like he is close!

 

[Quackmomma]

The yolk appears to be gone but there is still a red protrusion... I dont know what a normal duck umbilicus looks like. Is this part normal? Should I put anything on it? He has not gotten up yet, but he has done circles in the incubator moving around.
I have to work tomorrow so I'm worried about where to keep him. I removed the shavings from the brooder and put down a towel so nothing can scrape his belly. I'm concerned the homemade incubator will get too hot without me watching it and a little worried the brooder will be too open/chilly. Should I try to offer vitamin drops(without iron)/egg mash to give him a boost? I feel like he should have gotten up by now. He's been hatched 12hrs.
Can't tell y'all thank you enough for the wisdom!

 

[drumstick diva]

I don't know much about ducks so I will just say you have received some excellent advice from folks who really know ducks. I will bow out by saying Welcome to Backyard chickens.

 

[Ravynscroft]

The yolk appears to be gone but there is still a red protrusion... I dont know what a normal duck umbilicus looks like. Is this part normal? Should I put anything on it? He has not gotten up yet, but he has done circles in the incubator moving around.
I have to work tomorrow so I'm worried about where to keep him. I removed the shavings from the brooder and put down a towel so nothing can scrape his belly. I'm concerned the homemade incubator will get too hot without me watching it and a little worried the brooder will be too open/chilly. Should I try to offer vitamin drops(without iron)/egg mash to give him a boost? I feel like he should have gotten up by now. He's been hatched 12hrs.
Can't tell y'all thank you enough for the wisdom!

Sounds like a bit of a swollen navel... just put him on the clean towel in the brooder and make sure the temp is at 90° on one end and draftless... 12 hrs isn't long, especially with a wrong end hatch... a bit of vitamin drop along his bill would be ok, if you wish, but give him a full day to get his feet under him... congrats! You did great!

 

[Tenrec]

He's just absorbed his yolk, so you don't need to force or assist him in eating or drinking. The yolk can keep them up to 72 hours. Peeping is a very good sign! Don't worry about him walking yet, as long as he can sit/lay down right-side up and lift his head. He's had a rough time, and it's not unusual even for a normal baby to take a day to get their legs just right. You CAN offer water in the brooder once he's able to hold his head up well enough, but make sure he absolutely cannot drown in it. I suggest poultry vitamin/sav-a-chick solution, but err on the side of dilute.

Sometimes navels are bloody, especially with a rough hatch, and especially when the yolk isn't absorbed fully before hatch. What you are seeing is probably normal, and will eventually dry up. Can you give us a picture? It will not hurt to dab a little iodine solution on the navel regardless. It prevents infection, and while I do not know whether it /actually/ causes navels to dry/shrink up faster or just gives us peace of mind until they do, it at the very least seems to make that process go by faster. Do not let the iodine pool on the navel, just gently stain it. Some dab with bacitracin ointment. I would not go with neosporin/triple antibiotic considering how vascular that tissue is.

You made a good call in changing the brooder substrate. Just make sure the towel doesn't have any pulls/holes in it that his toenails or legs can get caught in while you're gone. Also make sure his feet can get good traction on it - it's very important the surface they learn to walk on gives them enough grip so they can learn to walk properly. If he's slipping, you risk spraddle leg and slipped tendon. I would keep this substrate until his wound heals and ALSO until he learns what food is. That way he's more likely to leave the chips alone. This could take up to a week, but usually less.

I would put him in the brooder tonight and see how he handles it. Make sure he can thermoregulate - if he's too weak to escape the heat lamp, he can get exhausted and pass very quickly. What is the flooring on your incubator looking like? You don't want him hurting that navel on it, or getting toes caught in it.

You've done a very good job! Good on you for handling that malpo and yolk problem. They can pull that stuff into their abdomen pretty amazingly quick as long as you make sure they don't move too much. Next time, if you find that the egg is too yucky, you can put the bird's butt/torso in a cup lined with damp paper towel. I've had babies hatch with unabsorbed yolk but had meconium (gross!) in their egg, which would be a huge risk for omphalitis if i simply placed them in the egg and wrapped them up.

I know it's very nerve-wreaking...That doesn't really get better as you incubate, though the first time is always the worst. You two are doing good though.

He's going to need a sibling unless you want to be around him 24/7 and for him to be a house duck forever. In the meantime, he will probably appreciate a soft plush in his brooder to snuggle with. Contact is very important for babies.

 

[Quackmomma]

THANK YOU!!
My little miracle baby was not just running but trying to leap out of the brooder when I got home! I will be getting him a buddy but it will be a chicken as that was my original intention when I rescued him. One last question--will the chick starter with brewers yeast harm the chick?
I seriously cant thank y'all enough for the sound advice! This little fella (I think) probably wouldn't have made it this far without it!
Ps- his belly is completely healed, I see nothing but fluff now. Amazing!

 

[Ravynscroft]

THANK YOU!!
My little miracle baby was not just running but trying to leap out of the brooder when I got home! I will be getting him a buddy but it will be a chicken as that was my original intention when I rescued him. One last question--will the chick starter with brewers yeast harm the chick?
I seriously cant thank y'all enough for the sound advice! This little fella (I think) probably wouldn't have made it this far without it!
Ps- his belly is completely healed, I see nothing but fluff now. Amazing!

Adorable!!

And great job!
No, the brewers yeast added to the feed won't harm the chick...

 

[Tenrec]

oh NO this is terrible

he's

JUST TOO CUTE!!!

Congrats on helping this little baby. Do you know what he is?

And as Ravyn said, no, brewer's yeast won't hurt the chickies.