Egg too small, duckling pipped, struggling to breathe, no noise, day 28 - pic attached

[HostileMatron]

Forgot to mention that although there are six ducklings in the picture, only five were hatched at my house. One is the duckling I bought to keep our first born from being lonely while he waited.

We have one that internally pipped yesterday so we are waiting on him. I did put a safety hole in this afternoon but other than that we are just waiting.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

As of today we have five that have hatched. We have been extremely lucky in that we have not lost anyone since the first couple days. Thanks to the help here I have a much better idea of what I'm looking for.

I think the biggest problem with the set of eggs I have is going to be shell thickness. As time is going on I am noticing that they some are unable to externally pip and the others are unable to get that first crack going after the external pip. We've been timing everything out as best as we can and making sure they have breathing holes if there's no pip. From there we wait and watch and eventually have had to put a little starter crack off of their pip. From there the last two have been able to take care of it themselves.

Everyone was getting a little cranky in the brooder. I don't think they liked the idea of newcomers being brought in everyday. Lol. So I went down to a second-hand store and picked up a pack and play. I put everyone in in separate corners and they all ran around not knowing who actually owned the place. It was starting to look like a WWE smackdown in the brooder, but everyone is happy as a kid with a cupcake now! View attachment 3047404

This was them at bedtime...
(The environment is 83 degrees. They are not cold. But they all seem to think the stuffed reindeer doll is mama )

View attachment 3047405

That’s so awesome
Lucky ducks to have you as mom
His legs didn’t show anything out of Place but it did show his growth in his bones is under what it should be. Most likely due to his room in his egg ti grow as both ends were blocked with air cells
We make a little progress but this bring in new issues. He can stand half way up now and take a few steps but then falls over and usually on his back. So I’m spending more time holding him at the same time I try to get him to lean the other way a little bit. In hopes we can correct his left leaning issues
I gave him a bath and he just did tight circles around and around to the left.
The vet said she thinks he will recover but he may always lean left
My other 4 eggs due tomorrow I let a young teen local girl and her mom try 4 eggs all 4 have made it to lockdown. 3 out of 4 this morning had external pips and the other was internal and should be external anytime as they saw the internal last night.

 

[HostileMatron]

That’s so awesome
Lucky ducks to have you as mom
His legs didn’t show anything out of Place but it did show his growth in his bones is under what it should be. Most likely due to his room in his egg ti grow as both ends were blocked with air cells
We make a little progress but this bring in new issues. He can stand half way up now and take a few steps but then falls over and usually on his back. So I’m spending more time holding him at the same time I try to get him to lean the other way a little bit. In hopes we can correct his left leaning issues
I gave him a bath and he just did tight circles around and around to the left.
The vet said she thinks he will recover but he may always lean left
My other 4 eggs due tomorrow I let a young teen local girl and her mom try 4 eggs all 4 have made it to lockdown. 3 out of 4 this morning had external pips and the other was internal and should be external anytime as they saw the internal last night.

Sounds like the little one needs some OT. He's tiny, but maybe you can rig up a sling for him to walk? I made one for a duckling that got attacked by a raccoon and couldn't walk. I held the "strings" and he was in the sling. I started him in it in water and once he was comfortable having it under him we moved to land. It did wonders for him. His wounds went deeper than his spine (I could see a lot of the spine!) and I thought he'd never walk again. But after packing wounds and lots of PT & OT at home, we can barely tell him from the others.

And the vet said he'd never walk and would have to be put down! Pffft!!! Nonsense! He's a happy, healthy duck today. Soooo glad I went with my gut!

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Sounds like the little one needs some OT. He's tiny, but maybe you can rig up a sling for him to walk? I made one for a duckling that got attacked by a raccoon and couldn't walk. I held the "strings" and he was in the sling. I started him in it in water and once he was comfortable having it under him we moved to land. It did wonders for him. His wounds went deeper than his spine (I could see a lot of the spine!) and I thought he'd never walk again. But after packing wounds and lots of PT & OT at home, we can barely tell him from the others.

And the vet said he'd never walk and would have to be put down! Pffft!!! Nonsense! He's a happy, healthy duck today. Soooo glad I went with my gut!

This guys neck is twisted a bit
I can feel from where the spine meets the neck it’s more right
But I hold him a lot and softly get his neck and head to stretch the other way
Yesterday in his bath all he could do is tight circles to the left. Today he was swimming all over the tub straight and could turn both ways
I have been trying to brain storm what kind of neck brace I could make to get that bone / cartridge to go straight
It’s his neck that knocks him off balance but his legs have got so strong now. He even stood up to eat and drink on his own till he jumped into his water dish lol
He still needs to be fed and water as he may not get the intake he needs if I’m not there to help him but I don’t mind he is the sweetest duck and appreciates the help

 

[HostileMatron]

How is the little fella doing?

We are nearing the end. We have one egg that's going to need some assistance. The little guys been trying all day. He's the last one. Phew!

Two hatched today. One was a complete surprise because he's not due until tomorrow. The other was due 2 days ago and he needed help getting out. No yolk, so he was ready. The one I helped is doing great and is in with the group already. The one that hatched himself early was ready because there was no yolk, but he's having a hard time. He's going to spend a day in the ducky ICU (yep. I have one of those now. Haha). We'll see how it goes. He's pretty weak but has a good spirit

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

How is the little fella doing?

We are nearing the end. We have one egg that's going to need some assistance. The little guys been trying all day. He's the last one. Phew!

Two hatched today. One was a complete surprise because he's not due until tomorrow. The other was due 2 days ago and he needed help getting out. No yolk, so he was ready. The one I helped is doing great and is in with the group already. The one that hatched himself early was ready because there was no yolk, but he's having a hard time. He's going to spend a day in the ducky ICU (yep. I have one of those now. Haha). We'll see how it goes. He's pretty weak but has a good spirit

My little one has got so much better
Today he walked on his own
Still wobbly and falls but it’s a huge milestone for him
It’s just about time now
He will recover but could take a few weeks
I have been loading him with vitamins and lots of baths 4 or more a day to help that leg that’s a bit weaker
So glad your hatch is almost finished and lots of precious ones! Updated pics please
I had a young lady and her mom want to try to do a hatch so I let them take my second bator and 4 eggs a few days after the school as I had to wait for 4 more eggs with only one laying duck
All 4 eggs started and hatched on their own with no issues or help. They never had to open the bator after lockdown
Babies hatched on day 28 within 12 hours from first to last ( waiting for mom duck to be a year old before incubating eggs makes a huge difference as you and I both learned
Both sets the school and the other house babies are headed to the same farm
Torpedo will stay with me
Here is a video of my special boy torpedo

 

[HostileMatron]

My little one has got so much better
Today he walked on his own
Still wobbly and falls but it’s a huge milestone for him
It’s just about time now
He will recover but could take a few weeks
I have been loading him with vitamins and lots of baths 4 or more a day to help that leg that’s a bit weaker
So glad your hatch is almost finished and lots of precious ones! Updated pics please
I had a young lady and her mom want to try to do a hatch so I let them take my second bator and 4 eggs a few days after the school as I had to wait for 4 more eggs with only one laying duck
All 4 eggs started and hatched on their own with no issues or help. They never had to open the bator after lockdown
Babies hatched on day 28 within 12 hours from first to last ( waiting for mom duck to be a year old before incubating eggs makes a huge difference as you and I both learned
Both sets the school and the other house babies are headed to the same farm
Torpedo will stay with me
Here is a video of my special boy torpedo

Oh my goodness! He did so good! These little ones are truly amazing

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Oh my goodness! He did so good! These little ones are truly amazing

Today he is going way further and when he gets going fast he hops like a chicken lol

 

[HostileMatron]

I am done! The last egg hatched out late last night. Had to make a hole for him to get out of, but other than that he did great. The little duck in ICU came out this morning in is now happily with the new guy. He's doing so much better today. I mashed up some peas, without the shells, and mealworms which I put in with a little food. The extra protein perked him right up!

I'll take some pictures of the clan when I get home. I was just looking through my phone in realized I didn't take any yesterday. I only took shots of the newest additions. Lol. But here's the last two that hatched

 

[HostileMatron]

Today he is going way further and when he gets going fast he hops like a chicken lol

How's the little one doing? I'm hoping it's going well

Now that I know how many I'll have (9), I've been working on a new playpen for the ducklings. It's not complete, but it's complete enough for them to have some fun in it. The final dimensions are 6'x30" (inside).

There's 3 bins at the end. One stays put. The others are to feed them and a pool. I can take them out for easy cleaning which is the best part Not that ducks are messy or anything . Oh, and the orange tray is for treats. I crushed done meal worms do the have something to do. For 30 seconds.