Duckling died, looking to understand!

[HatchCrazyHomo]

I’m new to BYC. I’ve hatched 2 rounds of chicks (mostly successfully), so when I discovered my female Pekin’s stash of eggs that I had no doubt were fertilized (that’s a whole different topic lol) I decided I’d hatch a few ducklings. The incubation went well thanks to a few BYC forums, but one duckling was born a little differently. She took her time getting out of the egg and once she finally was her belly button protruded and looked almost infected. Once moved over to the brooder she couldn’t walk like her hatchmates and instead pushed herself around with one foot or even pulled herself with her head. I’m a sucker for injured animals so I’ve been tending to her for a couple of days. This morning when I went to check on her I went to push her still protruding bellybutton to see how firm it was and a large amount of white drainage came out of her vent. I wasn’t sure what to think, but she seemed to perk up after this happened, she even moved better around her brooder than she had previously. This afternoon I went to check her and she had died. I knew this was likely from the moment she hatched because of the protrusion but I still can’t help but be sad!! Does anyone know what happened!?!?

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry for the circumstances, and Sorry for your loss. It is very possible that she had a bacterial infection in her abdomen.

 

[chickens really]

It's sounds like it never fully absorbed the yolk and the umbilical became infected..Poor Duckling...Next time if that happens you can put rubbing alcohol on the umbilical just like with human Babies or puppies..Use a Q-Tip...
Sorry you lost one...

 

[Duckworth]

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[Judy4222]

So sorry. I lost one too about two weeks ago.

 

[casportpony]

@HatchCrazyHomo , sorry for your loss. Sounds like mushy chick disease, or failure to absorb the yolk, or some sort of problem where the yolk was pressing on the intestines. When you pressed on the belly, the white stuff that came out was urates, which means your duckling was unable to pass feces on its own. . In the future, if you see one with an odd looking umbilicus you could try applying some betadine or chlorhexadine. Either of these *might* prevent bacteria from entering. Mushy chick disease is a common problem in chicks and ducklings that have been artificially incubated. Again, sorry for you loss.

 

[WVduckchick]

@HatchCrazyHomo , sorry for your loss. Sounds like mushy chick disease, or failure to absorb the yolk, or some sort of problem where the yolk was pressing on the intestines. When you pressed on the belly, the white stuff that came out was urates, which means your duckling was unable to pass feces on its own. . In the future, if you see one with an odd looking umbilicus you could try applying some betadine or chlorhexadine. Either of these *might* prevent bacteria from entering. Mushy chick disease is a common problem in chicks and ducklings that have been artificially incubated. Again, sorry for you loss.

x2