Hands on hatching and help

[Sunnyducks]

@WVduckchick , thank you... no antibiotic ointment! Is there a substitute? I might have honey? I hope to God he's ok, I'm a little relieved by your comment. I feel SO bad, so I hope it works out ok

 

[WVduckchick]

The others might be more inclined to pick at honey. I'd just leave it with nothing. In a few hours to a day, you wont even be able to see the spot.

 

[Sunnyducks]

The brooder would be fine, depending on what your bedding is. You don't want anything that will hurt the little spot. And also watch for picking by the other ducklings. Congrats!!

I've got pretty fine wood chippings. I could cover with a cotton dish towel and hope nothing sticks? I just fear all those bugs in the bator so I think I'll move him and pray he's ok. Thank you so much @WVduckchick , what would I do without your advice!

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh, if the shell piece is still stuck, you can gently clip it off, or moisten with a little water. It should come loose.

 

[WVduckchick]

I've got pretty fine wood chippings. I could cover with a cotton dish towel and hope nothing sticks? I just fear all those bugs in the bator so I think I'll move him and pray he's ok. Thank you so much @WVduckchick
, what would I do without your advice!

A cotton towel would be great, and better until his little belly heals up. And thank you. You did all the hard work. Aren't they the most adorable things on earth?

 

[Sunnyducks]

A cotton towel would be great, and better until his little belly heals up. And thank you. You did all the hard work. Aren't they the most adorable things on earth?

You are right, they might well try to get at the honey. I've left it like it is. He's on a smooth cotton towel, I just feel that despite his siblings, he's better in there than amongst the gunk in the bator which must be a bacterial soup by now. Ironically, despite his horrible day, he's the feistiest and most energetic of them all! (Note that I have decided he is a boy, whereas I have decided (completely arbitrarily of course) that the first two gentle, sweet little ones, are girls!!) Wow, that's sexist! LOL.

I have the brooder in my bedroom - with their peepings, the light from the heat light and my anxiety level, I doubt I shall get much sleep tonight but that's fine. All part of it. And I live and learn, albeit at the expense of these lovelies. And yes, they are utterly adorable! I hope yours are doing well.

 

[WVduckchick]

I've always said its funny that we call the trouble ones "he" and the sweet ones "she"!! I think it's just natural!

Try and get some rest. You're a great duck momma!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hi! Most times we have to trust our gut to decide when its right to intervene. It may have just been a bit too soon, but the duckling could still be fine. How much yolk is still unabsorbed? He will likely just lay there, continuing the absorption, just make sure he can't drag it around and tear it open on anything, if he does try to move around. If its a large sac, you can place him in a bowl to immobilize him.

Can you post a pic?

Xs. 2

And it ate another quote. I was going to say after seeing the pic, that it doesn't look bad at all.

I've always said its funny that we call the trouble ones "he" and the sweet ones "she"!! I think it's just natural!

Try and get some rest. You're a great duck momma!

I find when I am talking about my chicks I say "she" when I am addressing someone else's for some reason I have a tendency to say "he". Lol



Byc really hates me. My subscription thing isn't working right again. This is the second time. It shows how many I have and when I click it, it says I'm not subscribed to any threads...uh, yes I am. Ugh.


Well, out of the eggs in the bator for my nephew, I can definitely see development in 17/18 and I think there might be development in the last one too, just not as pronounced. It's only just starting day 4 so I'll know for sure in another 24 hours or so.

 

[WVduckchick]

@AmyLynn2374 congrats on the development! That's awesome.

On the subscription thing, make sure you are on "activity" tab and not "threads" tab (I hope its not vice versa lol can't remember on mobile) but mine got mysteriously switched once and did the same thing as yours. switched it back and all good!

 

[Ravynscroft]

Hi @RavynFallen Well, that didn't go well The duckling hatched a short while ago, but only because I took the decision to help and I'll never know if I was right to do that but I think it probably was. It was 47 hours from the pip. The last five hours were a struggle for it. It didn't pip anymore after the second pip but it was pushing constantly against the shell. Eventually bits of the shell fell off where it was pushing so hard, and the membrane looked yellow, not sticky, but really tough compared to the other two. Anyway, after five hours of this pushing and getting absolutely nowhere despite the egg splitting, the wriggling was getting weaker, the peeps getting fainter, and he was still unable to get through the membrane. In the end, my daughter and I decided that because we thought it was going to die, there was nothing to be lost from intervening. I sterlised my tweezers and tore a small bit of the membrane. It was extremely tough, no blood. It started crying out quite piteously so I just decided it was right, and I very carefully pulled the front off the shell. The membrane was virtually intact so I carefully removed it, and discovered that the bit of duckling I could see was the lower back. It ended up lying limply so I finished all but the last bit. Its head was in the pointed end at that point. It didn't seem to be breathing really by then and a small amount of yolk and the cord were still attached. I have left it there, as there are no ducklings left in the incubator and I didn't know what to do. I am so upset. It was even worse, if that's possible, because my 9yo grandson was watching it, so excited at seeing a duckling hatch. I presume it will pass away? It's still alive now, but that feels like a miracle. Should I have done anything? I feel awful incase I've caused it. @WVduckchick @RubyNala97

@WVduckchick Turned him over and he's pulled it off, it wasn't a huge amount of sac, there is a bit of shell stuck to it and it's a bit gooey. He's mighty angry and very feisty

You are right, they might well try to get at the honey. I've left it like it is. He's on a smooth cotton towel, I just feel that despite his siblings, he's better in there than amongst the gunk in the bator which must be a bacterial soup by now. Ironically, despite his horrible day, he's the feistiest and most energetic of them all! (Note that I have decided he is a boy, whereas I have decided (completely arbitrarily of course) that the first two gentle, sweet little ones, are girls!!) Wow, that's sexist! LOL. I have the brooder in my bedroom - with their peepings, the light from the heat light and my anxiety level, I doubt I shall get much sleep tonight but that's fine. All part of it. And I live and learn, albeit at the expense of these lovelies. And yes, they are utterly adorable! I hope yours are doing well.

You did great!! From the sound of it, if you had left it then it wouldn't have made it... good call... If you have a Tractor Supply near you, I do suggest getting some NutriDrench Liquid Vitamins... that would give him a good boost...

I've always said its funny that we call the trouble ones "he" and the sweet ones "she"!! I think it's just natural! Try and get some rest. You're a great duck momma!

X2!!!