Hi everyone. So yesterday morning my Silver Appleyard duckling hatched out. Well assisted, it had pipped in the small end and it was getting shrink wrapped. Silly me forgot to raise the humidity. So it pushed out half on it's own and laid there with some unabsorbed yolk sac. Named it hope because it had made it through a night. Thankful the resperitory clicking sounds went away but Hope has some really bad defects. She has a splayed leg with one crooked toe. She is EXTREMELY weak and just sits there on her hocks. It slept on my hand today and when I put it back, she/he started peeping crazy and looking for me with her one good eye. Oh and she scratched her eye and can't open one of them. Anyway once she saw me, she would try to lift her head up and keeps falling over. Sometimes she would jump towards me and end up hitting the sides with her head. Questions: 1. How do I wrap the duckling's feet to help the splayed leg and the crooked toe? 2. How do I make it drink water and eat food if it barely can lift it's head. (It refused water but I'm planning to give it food on the third day.) 3. Has anyone had this situation and did it survive? 4. Will water therapy help or drown him or her? 5. How can I get the swollen eye to open? 6. Can I cuddle with it like I did today or should I wait until it gets stronger? 7. I heard niacin helps but I can only find the flush free one. Can that work or no? You can answer all or as many as you can. I don't want to loose this duckling since It was the only one that developed and hatched. Thank you in advance for all your answers. Picture: Sleeping in my hand
First post photos and full description of problems at "Emergencies, diseases, injuries, cures," thread. Then go to "Other Backyard Poultry" forum to post for help on the duck thread. For right now, do you have a safe, warm brooder for the duckling? You can give her a small, stuffed toy to cuddle with, and a mirror so she doesn't think she is alone. I'm not sure what weak ducklings can eat but, I wouldn't make her wait 3 days. She needs nourishment and water to hydrate. I don't want to suggest infant drops or things that are fed to weak chicks, because it may be a totally different thing than ducks should have.
Hi Glad you could join the flock! I can see why you named her Hope with all the problems she is having I'm sure with the great advice there from drumstick diva you are able to get her up to full health and her problems sorted out. Wishing you the very best of luck with Hope in the future. Keep us posted how you get on with her
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help. I've never had to deal with this situation so I'm not much help. But Drumstick Diva has given you great advice. Good luck!