DUCK EGG HATCHING! SHOULD I ASSIST?

[JaeG]

hi everyone. today around 3pm the duckling hatched! all by itself, it came out of the egg. its been almost 5 hours and the duckling still hasn't fluffed up. I'm not sure how long it should take... the duckling is dry but not fluffy, is this normal?
also, the duckling has a sticky blackish blob hanging from the tail. I don't know what it is but I'm pretty sure it's not normal. does anyone have an idea of what it is and what I should do?

It could just be the fact that it got a bit dried out and the moisture from the shell has dried on its fluff, making it less fluffy. The goop is likely the waste that usually stays in the shell. It should dry out and drop off but you could sterilise some scissors and snip it off as far from the duckling as possible so you are just snipping off the blob. The stump may bleed slightly so just pinch it until that stops. The rest should dry up and fall off. If you leave the blob on there there's just the risk that it will get caught on something and pull the duckling's guts out.

 

[KaylaLee]

Umbilical cord?

i’m not sure - i’m going too see if it falls off by itself tomorrow, if it doesn’t then i will cut it

 

[Michelle 0831]

How are things? Update?

hi everyone. today around 3pm the duckling hatched! all by itself, it came out of the egg. its been almost 5 hours and the duckling still hasn't fluffed up. I'm not sure how long it should take... the duckling is dry but not fluffy, is this normal?
also, the duckling has a sticky blackish blob hanging from the tail. I don't know what it is but I'm pretty sure it's not normal. does anyone have an idea of what it is and what I should do?

Just remember your mama. So do what she would. Clean, warm. Huddle. Rest. And talk smooth chat reassure .....its scary out there!

 

[Michelle 0831]

so what breed is this? And kudos for using the forum. Its a great source of info!! My ducklings took a day to fluff up but it can be different with no mama.

 

[KaylaLee]

so what breed is this? And kudos for using the forum. Its a great source of info!! My ducklings took a day to fluff up but it can be different with no mama.

i think it’s a mallard! the person i bought it from wasn’t sure which duck had it, but it looks like a mallard. it’s all fluffed up now, took about 15+ hours!

 

[KaylaLee]

How are things? Update?

Just remember your mama. So do what she would. Clean, warm. Huddle. Rest. And talk smooth chat reassure .....its scary out there!

the duckling is doing great! it’s very energetic! for some reason it keeps pecking and biting at my hand. it’s very fluffy now, and the sticky thing fell of by itself! the little duckling likes to jump into the water dish (don’t worry it can touch the bottom)!