Ducklings curling necks under them into a circle?

[BurchFunnyFarm]

This is what mine looked like: -Kathy

That's what mine look like too.

 

[BurchFunnyFarm]

I have duramyacin powdered antibiotic in my animal care kit. I could add that to their water. After reading all the posts I'm leaning towards too much bacteria on their systems. One of the four does seem extremely spry and fine, but he is the only one who came out unassisted. The other three were getting shrink wrapped so I made holes for for air where their beaks were and cranked up the humidity for them. They got the rest of the way out on their owns and from what I saw they did seem to have absorbed as much as the one who made it out on its own. The membrane just seemed to be thicker and stuck to their feathers. I I cleaned, fluffed, and dried them before putting them into the brooder the next day.

 

[casportpony]

That's what mine look like too.

Wow, three of them?

-Kathy

 

[BurchFunnyFarm]

Yes, three now. It was a single one that started Sunday night and as of today three are doing it. They seem to still be eating and drinking fine, and moving to and from their heat lamp. Only 4 of the 11 eggs I incubated hatched. I kind of screwed up because my neighbor gave me this incubator and told me how to use it months ago and I have hatched TONS of chickens, but the ducks always have a poor hatch. Well she recently found the instructions and gave them to me. So this is the first time I took the eggs out of the rocker and let them lay naturally before the hatch. The 4 ducks that did hatch had pipped their shells before I laid the eggs out. I'm just getting really discouraged with incubating ducks. :-(

 

[BurchFunnyFarm]

I think I'm going to number these ducks and monitor them closely. Since I put the niacin in two of them have been guzzling water and holding their heads pretty naturally. What an odd experience!

 

[casportpony]

I had a similar experience, so don't feel bad. It's good that they are still eating and drinking, mine never did, so I'd also look at a possible vitamin deficiency like Miss Lydia suggested.

Below is the sensitivity report for the bacteria

ANTIMICROBIAL TEST-KIRBY BAUER (KB) AVIAN
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
A-Yellow Band A Yolk Sac Tissue
Isolate
Escherichia coli
EXTRA-LABEL USE ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS -- NOT approved for use in this animal species--
Antibiotic Reading Interpretation
Ceftiofur 28mm sensitive
Erythromycin 8mm resistant
Gentamicin 24mm sensitive
Neomycin 21mm sensitive
Penicillin 6mm resistant
Spectinomycin 21mm sensitive
Tetracycline 22mm sensitive
Sulfonamides 22mm sensitive
Enrofloxacin 35mm sensitive
TMP/Sulfa 29mm sensitive

ANTIMICROBIAL TEST-KIRBY BAUER (KB) AVIAN
Animal/Source Specimen Specimen Type
A-Yellow Band A Liver Tissue
Isolate
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
EXTRA-LABEL USE ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS -- NOT approved for use in this animal species--
Antibiotic Reading Interpretation
Ceftiofur 13mm resistant
Erythromycin 6mm resistant
Gentamicin 19mm sensitive
Neomycin 16mm intermediate
Penicillin 6mm resistant
Spectinomycin 12mm intermediate
Tetracycline 12mm resistant
Sulfonamides 6mm resistant
Enrofloxacin 21mm sensitive
TMP/Sulfa 6mm resistant

 

[casportpony]

Both of mine could not hold their heads normally, not even for a second.

-Kathy

 

[BurchFunnyFarm]

I wish I could figure outshot to post a video on here from my ipad. They all got up and drank and ate like pigs when I added the fresh niacin water. They drank almost a fifth of a chick sized waterer in 20 mins, ate, and now are sleeping. Okay, let's try vitamins. What do you guys think I have around the house that I could use. Bridges, work, and schools are closed here today due to an ice storm. Driving to town isn't an option, but I do have all day to nurse my little fuzz butts!

 

[casportpony]

Sounds like they might be okay!

-Kathy

 

[Miss Lydia]

I wish I could figure outshot to post a video on here from my ipad. They all got up and drank and ate like pigs when I added the fresh niacin water. They drank almost a fifth of a chick sized waterer in 20 mins, ate, and now are sleeping. Okay, let's try vitamins. What do you guys think I have around the house that I could use. Bridges, work, and schools are closed here today due to an ice storm. Driving to town isn't an option, but I do have all day to nurse my little fuzz butts!

What do you have? some use Poly vi sol with out iron but before you add anything else why not watch and see how they do the rest of the evening with the niacin and if you don't notice any down hill further maybe it is niacin. I sure hope so bless their hearts it's such an easy fix. also I have seen where super complex vit B has been given successfully. I have only used niacin and that was in the form of Brewers yeast. But for them to have such a good appetite it's encouraging. so keep offering them water and food. and also you can take an old clean towel s and make it in the form of a donut place one in each hole to support their bodies and heads in normal position. if you do this place them close together. Hopefully if someone thinks you should add the vitamins along with the niacin then they will add their 2cents. I wouldn't want to over dose them on vitamins either.