Help! DUCKLING hatched on day 24...

[kitkatbahr]

Help! I have a duckling that hatched on day 24, yesterday/last night. He was in an incubator at the school. It is a nice one that turns the eggs automatically. I had given them two dozen Pekin and Pekin/swedish mixed eggs 25 days ago today. The teacher went in this a.m. and there was a baby duck hatched. Almost dry, so I assume he hatched late yesterday/last night. Today is day 25. I recounted to make sure. Some of the eggs rotted during the incubation but they have approx. 1 dozen left. We checked them, and none are peeping or pipped or anything, but they have dark areas in the eggs, you can almost see through the shell.

This little guy is tiny, but seems to be ok. I brought him home and set him up in a brooder box, so he wouldn't stay at school all weekend. Teacher will check tomorrow afternoon if anymore hatch and I will go get them. They were not due to hatch until Monday day 28. I have never incubated duck eggs, so my question is Is it unusual for them to hatch at 24 days? Why would only this one hatch yesterday? I ran to the feed store on the way home to get non-medicated chick starter for him. Took him in. Even the feed store guy said he was tiny!

Any and all advice will be appreciated. Does he have a good chance at making it? As I said, right now he seems healthy just very tiny and fragile.

Thank you!!

Kathy
Merritt Island, FL

 

[Catstar68]

Duck people...can you have a preemie duck??!

 

[debilorrah]

Just like with any other animals, they can be premature. Is it walking and eating ok?

 

[kitkatbahr]

Quote:
He is walking ok. Haven't seen him eat yet. He did get a drink though. And played a bit in the water. Not enough to get himself wet, but he sure messed up the brooder. He had his first poop since I brought him home, just awhile ago. Not much to it, but definitely a poop. I have a chick water dispenser thingy for the water so he can't get into it. Got everything cleaned up and dry. He sleeps, wakes up, walks around. Peeps a bit. I have a beanie baby in there for him and he cuddles with that. Seems to be ok.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Kathy

 

[kitkatbahr]

UPDATE: Little ducky made it through the night. He ate a few crumbs of food, drank some water. I had the baby monitor set up so I could hear him all night long. He didn't get distressed at all. He would peep for a few minutes, then get quiet, go to sleep. I checked on him through the night and he was cuddled up to his beanie baby. There was another poop this morning, near the food dish. A little bit more than yesterday's. He still isn't eating much and is wobbly when trying to walk around, but very bright eyed. He knows my voice now and starts "calling" me when he hears me talking. When I hold him, he loves to snuggle in my hair! LOL Such a cutie.

I think he is going to be ok. He is just so small!

Thank you for any and all advice.

Kathy

 

[froggie71]

They don't usually eat or drink a lot the first couple of days. You'll notice a big difference soon though. Even 1 duckling can make a Huge mess. Congrats on the little duckie. Hope to see pics soon and hopefully he/she will have some brooder mates soon.