Help! Air cell’s too small but duckling’s still Alive trying to pip!

[shawluvsbirds]

Oh ok got it! I am using non medicated chick starter - I’ll give the duckling niacin with that. I only just realised that it’ll take two weeks for the nutri drench to come so it might not be an option anymore, for the time being I suppose I’ll see how the duckling is once it’s dried up and see if it needs anything more

Here's a good article on niacin supplements and niacin deficiencies.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.75862/

 

[Croissant]

Here's a good article on niacin supplements and niacin deficiencies.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.75862/

Thank you! I’ll go ahead and give it a read!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Here's a good article on niacin supplements and niacin deficiencies.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.75862/

I also think that it could be mainly the molasses in the nutri drench that perks them up. You might be able to give just a little sugar water or some molasses if you have that in the water for the first day if it seems weak.

 

[BelovedBirds]

I read somewhere that if you assist a hatch it’s good to give them electrolytes and other supplements for the first few days - and niacin to prevent deficiency but I’m not sure what exactly to give since what I can get here is limited. I was planning to give nutritional yeast but do I need to give anything else? I’ll also keep tablets on hand just in case! Also, the duckling is stuck to the egg shell with one tiny thing - should I cut that off and remove the shell or?
View attachment 3033832
View attachment 3033833

yes, I had this with my second duckling, she was stuck like that for hours! Just take a clean pair of scissors and snip as close to the shell as possible. The rest will dry and fall off on its own.

 

[Croissant]

I also think that it could be mainly the molasses in the nutri drench that perks them up. You might be able to give just a little sugar water or some molasses if you have that in the water for the first day if it seems weak.

How do I make up the sugar water - like how many spoons of sugar to cups of water would i need?

 

[Croissant]

yes, I had this with my second duckling, she was stuck like that for hours! Just take a clean pair of scissors and snip as close to the shell as possible. The rest will dry and fall off on its own.

Yep snipped it as close as possible! Right now the ducklings just lying fave down sleeping a lot, hopefully it’ll perk up once it’s dried

 

[shawluvsbirds]

How do I make up the sugar water - like how many spoons of sugar to cups of water would i need?

I've never actually done that so I really don't know for sure.

How do I make up the sugar water - like how many spoons of sugar to cups of water would i need?

Here's something from the internet to kind of go by for baby chicks that need a boost. I would assume to be the same for ducklings.

 

[Croissant]

I've never actually done that so I really don't know for sure.

Here's something from the internet to kind of go by for baby chicks that need a boost. I would assume to be the same for ducklings. View attachment 3033990

Thank you so much! I’ll give the duckling some once it dries completely !

 

[Croissant]

I've never actually done that so I really don't know for sure.

Here's something from the internet to kind of go by for baby chicks that need a boost. I would assume to be the same for ducklings. View attachment 3033990

Well the ducklings really active - it’s been doing laps round the incubator and the moment I lift it to check on the other egg or top up the humidity it frog leaps out of the incubator ! It’s still in there right now, hasn’t completely dried off, so I wouldn’t say it’s weak in the slightest.

With the other egg it enlarged the original pip it did and then went quiet - like the other duckling, I made a small hole there so I can observe it, and I think it’s in the same position with its beak under its wing and the membrane that’s come off the shell around it - is it safe to open up the air cell now and take a better look? (Since it’s been over the 36 hours the other egg took to come out with assistance from the time it pipped)

 

[BelovedBirds]

Well the ducklings really active - it’s been doing laps round the incubator and the moment I lift it to check on the other egg or top up the humidity it frog leaps out of the incubator ! It’s still in there right now, hasn’t completely dried off, so I wouldn’t say it’s weak in the slightest.

With the other egg it enlarged the original pip it did and then went quiet - like the other duckling, I made a small hole there so I can observe it, and I think it’s in the same position with its beak under its wing and the membrane that’s come off the shell around it - is it safe to open up the air cell now and take a better look? (Since it’s been over the 36 hours the other egg took to come out with assistance from the time it pipped)

When did he hatch? I'd imagine he's dry enough for the brooder if its warmed up and ready-
I only left mine in for 1-2 hours, once they were mostly dry I took them out and let them dry in the warmth of the brooder- Mainly because I dislike seeing other eggs knocked about!

For the other egg, could we see a photo?