Duckling doesn't look so well..

[lovelyducklings]

this duckling hatched yesterday, she's shaky and one eye won't open and the other is barley open. Anyone know what this means? she was hatched along with another but one of the eggs looked almost dead before hatching, it was all red inside and didn't look normal. this might be her.

 

[chickensrus2]

I am getting ducks soon actually, but I don't actually have a duck yet. one of my chicks, however, was like that. You could try to clean out her eye with water, give her a shallow pool of water or just wait it out. Also, what might help is feeding her some mealworms or food that is more natural to her instead of pellets.

 

[Amykins]

NO MEALWORMS. They're just too big and tough for her to eat, especially in that state. She'd probably choke! Oh, the poor baby...it sounds like she may have had a nasty bug infiltrate the shell during incubation. Are you able to get her to a vet? If there's still a chance to save her, she'll need some aggressive antibiotics. If that's just not possible, try to make her comfortable, get some nutrients into her, either with a dropper or offer some unflavored pedialyte or mix some sav-a-chick in her water. Poor baby.

 

[lovelyducklings]

NO MEALWORMS. They're just too big and tough for her to eat, especially in that state. She'd probably choke! Oh, the poor baby...it sounds like she may have had a nasty bug infiltrate the shell during incubation. Are you able to get her to a vet? If there's still a chance to save her, she'll need some aggressive antibiotics. If that's just not possible, try to make her comfortable, get some nutrients into her, either with a dropper or offer some unflavored pedialyte or mix some sav-a-chick in her water. Poor baby.

her eye started to open up this morning but closed again

and okay. and I forgot to mention that she may have burned her eye on the incubator, I was out of town so my mother was watching them for me and she kept them in there for a day. I looked at the heating source in the incubator and one side is lower than the other. her brother also has something red on his beak.

 

[Amykins]

That's....that's something pretty major to not mention. Do you have any chance at all to take them to a vet? It sounds like all of them could use a checkup.

 

[lovelyducklings]

That's....that's something pretty major to not mention. Do you have any chance at all to take them to a vet? It sounds like all of them could use a checkup. 

I didn't know it could've been that until I started thinking and then looked at the incubator. And no, I do not have the money right now

I wish I could though. and the one with the red thing on his beak, my mom said it was there when she checked on them and they were still wet and were wobbling around so he might've been born with it. I'll take a picture later.

 

[Amykins]

@Amiga , sorry to call upon you again but you're the master of at-home duckling care. Do any of these symptoms sound familiar to you? I hope that little baby is gonna be okay. :/

 

[Amiga]

Get their brooder safe for them. Nothing sharp or hot - good bedding, fresh water. Good starter crumble.

Drop mild saline solution on her eye four times a day. Don't let it get into her mouth.

Dab a tiny bit of olive oil on the other's bill three times a day. Not enough to run into his mouth.

Upload photos when you can of them and their brooder

Amykins I am on the road could you please post the link to the Raising Ducklings sticky?

 

[Amykins]

Get their brooder safe for them. Nothing sharp or hot - good bedding, fresh water. Good starter crumble.

Drop mild saline solution on her eye four times a day. Don't let it get into her mouth.

Dab a tiny bit of olive oil on the other's bill three times a day. Not enough to run into his mouth.

Upload photos when you can of them and their brooder

Amykins I am on the road could you please post the link to the Raising Ducklings sticky?

I'm sorry to bother you then, Amiga. You don't think any of them could be sick, do you? The whole closed eyes/listless thing has me kinda worried. Are they at least eating and pooping normally?

Here's the sticky: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings

 

[Amiga]

I'm sorry to bother you then, Amiga. You don't think any of them could be sick, do you? The whole closed eyes/listless thing has me kinda worried. Are they at least eating and pooping normally?

Here's the sticky: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings

I am able to sit at the laptop for about two minutes, here….

no apologies Amykins - I love that you tapped me on the shoulder.

I would not rule out an illness - something bacterial may be the cause. If a vet is not in the picture, then I would start immediately with simple workable things like saline and olive oil.

The OP needs to get information and antibiotics ready and be ready to make the decision on starting that - Amykins, you may have the better gut feeling about this - no arguments here.

@lovelyducklings are you subscribed to this thread so you can see notice of responses? Get some antibiotics - @Amykins can you advise on dosage?

I must must must leave the online world now for a couple of hours at least….