I raise ducks. Thats wry neck that can be treated faster with Niacin. B3. Get it soon and she will recover within a couple of days if no damage. Get you a washcloth and turn the baby opposite direction and allow head to fall naturally onto pillow. This takes pressure off of neck nerves, no risk of suffocation and muscles. Have you ever fell asleep with your head leaning on car door and you wake up and it feels like someone filled your joints with cement? Yow lime that!
Placing a dry washcloth over him like a blanket makes him feel secure and less likely to struggle. Folding the blanket is for kids so they can bond by rubbing them to sleep for a few seconds before covering top. Dont close them up completly.
If you search on this subject within BYC, you will find all sorts of info. Here are my importants..
No deep water dish. THEY MUST HAVE WATER TO SWALLOW FOOD. Without it they choke because they don’t have a good swallow reflex. They grab the dry and then will gulp water. They fill mouth and slug it down. BTW.. they will need a baby pool or larger later or a bucket that they can rinse their nostrils out of put up at night. They are ground rooters and they cant get enough water to get it out with a chicken waterer. Pool will do after feathered and that time is where you will have so much fun with them! Dart under water and having a food time!
They should not get wet until feathers which is usually just about in at 6-8 weeks.
You holding a them a lot and worrying over them will exhaust them and likely cause death.
Put them in bin, heat to 95 degrees and drop 5 degrees every week until even with outside/room temp.
Handling them will also spread germs such as salmonella to kids. Yes they are carriers but with good sense and education, it requires nothing more than hand washing and boots later. In time, the kids will have plenty of time to bond but they need time to recover from birth. Mmm, can imagine how tired you would be if you had to grow and hand deliver yourself? Phew! Lol
No drafts
Blue light instead of red because their eyes are very sensitive much like a blue eye. Too much bright and eyes could be damaged. I buy the led night lights and plug into an extension cord and cover white light with blue painters tape. You may want to tape light to plug because they get loose. Just hang over side and place over food and water then close lid. BTW.. ducks, chickens can be controlled with light. Over food they eat and drink. Thats where I keep mine.
DO NOT FEED MEDICATED CRUMBLES
waterfowl does not require Corid or worming although on the latter we do. Makes good sense if i want them healthy.
They need room. Think a large plastic bin for about 2-3 weeks then you will want something safe for outside. Smelly and poop time.
What else? Lol I am rambling. I hope this helps and good luck with them. One more thing,
Never place waterfowl with chickens.
Coccidiosis comes from wet ground which chickens can’t have unless you maintenance treat.
Chickens can pick up salmonella from waterfowl. People sell eggs and someone will come down sick and blame it on the eggs. If you go to egg person’s house they probably have them cohabiting. Not good.
Can’t remember how old they are but also know that there is a chance baby wont bounce back if its been a few days. For the kids you know, but give it a decent two weeks and if no improvement it doesn’t sound good.
Good luck and welcome to ducks! They are overwhelming at first but then they become the easiest to care for.
