Help! Mom pecked baby as it was hatching

[Miss Lydia]

It’s internally pipped? I’d give it more time if it can get air. Can you see the bill? If it’s yawning it’s still absorbing the yolk. And is way to early to get it out

 

[Knighstar679]

I agree with miss Lydia. Ducks like taking their time. With a good high humidity this little duckling should be ok.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm not there so I can't answer that. I just know that my assisted hatches have about a 25% chance of survival. Of those that do, very few grow up to produce vigorous offspring that hatch easily on their own.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@pntdhorses we'd love an update?

 

[pntdhorses]

Update: Well the poor little ducking that crazy mom pecked while he was hatching did even more damage than I thought. She actually pecked part of his poor little bill off!!! I am just horrified at her behavior. He seems to not be in pain and is acting relatively normal. I’ve been able to get him to drink a bit of water with some electrolytes and some Vitamin B-12 drops. He hasn’t really eaten but neither has the other as they are only a day old so not concerned about that right

now. I’ve read about some instances that the bill could grow back especially when they are young. Has anybody had experience with this type of injury? I feel just awful for this little one. The other 1st hatchling is perfectly fine and already jumping on mama hens back all the time! So I have no worries regarding that one.

The 3rd baby amazingly is still alive in the incubator but still hasn’t fully absorbed the egg sac. I honestly don’t think it’s going to make it and am very surprised that it’s still alive. All it does is sleep. I wrapped it in a moist washcloth in a upright position. Keeping the humidity high to keep the egg yolk from drying out. That’s all I can do. Poor little thing. I will truly be surprised if it’s makes it to tomorrow.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope you get a nice surprise and it hatches. Poor wee one I don’t if the bill will grow back but I’ve read of many chicks and duckling doing well with bill deformities. May have to modify using a deep bowl for scooping feed.

 

[pntdhorses]

@pntdhorses we'd love an update?

I hope you get a nice surprise and it hatches. Poor wee one I don’t if the bill will grow back but I’ve read of many chicks and duckling doing well with bill deformities. May have to modify using a deep bowl for scooping feed.

Unfortunately I am no stranger to special needs animals around here. I have a one legged Polish hen, a severe scissor beaked EE hen and a Little Crested mallard duckling that has a small tumor on the side of his head! And right now I have 2 little Bantam roos that have some leg trauma which I have no clue what they did to warrant that so they are getting betadine soaks and quiet cage time. So on top of my other 40 some chickens, swans, horses, miniature goats, miniature donkeys, miniature cows, dogs and cats, my plate is pretty dang full!

I think I’m done with hatching for sure.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like you have a plate full and they couldn’t be in better hands. Please keep us updated on all that’s going on. Rooting for them all.

 

[pntdhorses]

Sounds like you have a plate full and they couldn’t be in better hands. Please keep us updated on all that’s going on. Rooting for them all.

Thank you for your caring!

 

[pntdhorses]

Baby in incubator passed. I will bury it among flowers tomorrow. I just don’t know about these eggs I bought. 8 were sent, 5 spoiled pretty quickly. I don’t think they were very quality Mandarin eggs to begin with. But I’m thankful for the two I have. Healthy hatching is already pretty wild. Definitely bonded to mama hen. Little wounded baby is very sweet. I will dote on it a lot!