Duckling hatched this morning extremely weak...

[bandocommando]

One of my runner ducks hatched this morning and has been extremely weak ever since. He was an assisted hatch and was facing the wrong way/didn’t pip into the air sack. Since he’s hatched, his head is floppy and he’s only tried to stand maybe twice with great difficulty. He mostly lays on his belly and sleeps.

I’ve gotten him to eat a little bit of hard boiled egg, some finely chopped parsley, and some of the starter duck feed wetted but all of this has been assisted - I don’t think he could get up to eat and drink on his own if he wanted to. Sometimes he is more enthusiastic about eating than others, but he’s very very weak.

I gave him a few drops of vitamin e oil and I crushed a b complex vitamin and gave him some of that mixed with water...

My question is: is there ANYTHING else I can do? My nutridrench won’t be here until Wednesday unfortunately and I’m unable to go to the store because I live with someone who is immune compromised.

Also: what’s the best I can expect? Any chance he will perk up in the morning and if not, is there any hope at all? I’m feeling so sad for this little guy.

 

[Isaac 0]

Sounds like you have done all you can, for now, I'm glad you ordered the Nutri-dench, that stuff works wonder with weak ducklings. Keep him warm and dry, offer him food/water every hour or so, hopefully, he'll perk up more tomorrow.

As many people put it, hatching is a fitness test for ducklings, some have a harder time than others, hopefully, he'll pull through with some TLC.

 

[bandocommando]

Thank you - here are a few pictures of him... he’s just so pitiful it breaks my heart but miraculously he’s still here!

If anyone has any other advice I would love to hear, or stories of ducks coming back from something like this?

 

[Isaac 0]

Poor little guy! Rooting for him!

 

[DuckyDonna]

I had a little guy like that last spring which was also a major assisted hatch. He was malpositioned in the egg and it took me all day to get him out with the help of @WVduckchick on the phone with me the whole time.

He was just like that when he first came out. Just laying there exactly like yours is now. I fully expected to get up in the morning and find him dead but what I found was a little guy up on his feet and running around his little brooder. I was so excited. So it sure can happen so keep doing what you're doing and don't give up!

 

[bandocommando]

Hi all,

Unfortunately he’s passed away. thanks for all the help and words of encouragement

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry for your loss!