Duckling hatched with tied feet and another unable to support head!

[Karly26]

I've got pekin ducklings hatching at the moment. Early! Day 28 is tomorrow (Mon) and on day 25 (Fri) when I stopped them rolling and increased my humidity in the morning I noticed one egg had already pipped (and later hatched that evening). Two of the other ducklings needed a help out of their eggs. The first made a pip and seemed to be trying to pip but just ended up with its foot poking out of the pip with its bill. I ended up helping it out this morning after it seemed to make no progress for hours but it is unable to properly support its head (I assume from what I've read from being twisted weirdly in the egg?). It tries to lift it but just ends up flopping it around everywhere. It seems to maybe be gaining some extra control and it was able to drink some water with a vitamin/electrolyte mix in it with some support. Is there anything else I can do to assist it?

The second started zipping and was doing well but then stalled for about 8 hours and while it was trying still, it was just pushing it's beak further and further out of the zip it had made. So I helped it, but it's feet were right down the end of the shell and part of (what I assume was umbilical) was tangled around its two feet tying them together tightly. I was able to remove the cord but it has some red marks on its feet and the left foot particularly is quite bent and twisted and it seems to be having trouble trying to use it (though it's only been hatched for about 3 hours). I've seen the little foot sandals that people make for twisted feet. Is this the best thing to help this little duckling? If so, how early should I try and do this? Or should I give it a day or two to try and figure itself out. I'm still learning lots and have read lots of information on this site, and was wondering if anyone had any more specific ideas? (sorry this is long... hopefully it makes sense, kicking myself for not stopping the eggs rolling earlier, as I assume this is why these guys had trouble! I had an inkling things might be ahead back on Wednesday but didn't trust myself!)

 

[WVduckchick]

Ducks take a little longer to fully hatch than chicks, so try not to rush them. They pip, then rest for a long time. 40+ hours is not uncommon. But if you felt they were in distress, you have to go with your gut feeling. Personally I would give the one a few more hours before trying the sandals. See if he works the feet out on his own. He's been cramped up for a while! Lol I believe by tomorrow you will know if they are gonna straighten out on their own or not, and it will still be early enough to correct.
How many do you have left to hatch?

 

[Karly26]

Hi and thanks for your reply. I had read 40+ hours for ducklings, it has been a while since I've hatched ducklings in my incubator so I was trying to figure out whether to help those two or not but as you said it just didn't seem quite right, hopefully I made the right call, they had both absorbed everything of course. Both ducklings seem the same this morning. The floppy head one seems as alert and energetic as I could imagine it can be, unable to really stand or control well where it's head goes. The twisted leg one still seems unable to get it's left leg underneath it to be able to stand. At this stage I'm leaving them in the incubator but have moved the siblings into my brooder, is this the right thing to do for now? Hopefully I'll see some progress in both throughout today!

I've had 6 hatch out, (including one that pipped the wrong end!) with 6 eggs to go, though I've not seen much action from those eggs so am a bit worried. I've realised just over the past two days my incubator I think has had quite a cold spot on one side (now covered to try and remedy) so not sure if this could be a cause if they don't hatch? Definitely needs some investigation before I use it again!

 

[WVduckchick]

My thoughts, for what its worth... If you have already had 6 hatch and you aren't to day 28 yet, your temps must have been a little high, but not bad. Also some breed of ducks hatch sooner than others, so I think that part is fine.
Personally I would go ahead and move the two "slower" ones, even if you need a small separator in the brooder (if the others are too rowdy for them) Give some electrolytes and vitamins (sav-a-chick) and food, get them something soft to lay on and gain strength.


If you have no other pips, you could candle the remaining eggs for movement, but waiting another day isn't going to hurt either.

 

[Karly26]

All thoughts are worth it and appreciated! My temps were 37.5? I didn't see them go higher at all. But perhaps if I have a cold spot there's a warm end too? Or is 37.5 too high? Today is day 28 so might candle them today when I take the two little darlings out. Watching twisted feet (poor thing needs a better name!) I'm wondering if it's right foot is a lot of the problem too. It's right foot is twisted over the left side of its body. Also getting worried the one with the floppy head will end up with splayed legs if it doesn't pick up soon just because of its head over balancing it's leg slip out and apart. So would be keen to get both onto a very grippy surface. Thanks for your thoughts! I'll cordone off a little section in the brooder and give them both some more vitamin/ electrolyte mix I have. Thanks and here's hoping!