Help pls. Duck hatching

[Trisseh]

Hey so this morning whatever was on it has dried. Its head is dried stiff but still to move. Stuck on it's back most the night I think due to the stickiness. Still pips at me when I go check on it. Belly button almost closed just a tiny bit of whiteness from moist skin. Should I take it out keep it warm and try to wash off whatever is dried on it? Humidity is 76% this morning temp 98

I don’t usually try to clean any sticky stuff off, they chill easily. It will eventually dry and flake off. The only time I do anything with it if they’ve got some membrane dried on or whatever, is if it’s over anything important like a nostril or an eye. If it’s just the down, it’ll sort itself out. probably fine to go in the brooder, just watch to make sure your first one isn’t picking on it. Sometimes the early hatchers aren’t that nice to newcomers. I usually make sure they get a drink of electrolyte water before I put them into the brooder and leave them to their own devices, especially if they’re still a little sluggish.

ETA: also just keep in mind that the really tardy ones sometimes don’t make it - sometimes there’s a reason they’re slow or don’t hatch properly, and there’s only so much you can do. Supportive care once they’re out, keep a close eye on it, and make sure it’s taking in some water, as they can get pretty dehydrated quite quickly while in the incubator, especially when there’s a fan blowing.

 

[HopMomma]

I don’t usually try to clean any sticky stuff off, they chill easily. It will eventually dry and flake off. The only time I do anything with it if they’ve got some membrane dried on or whatever, is if it’s over anything important like a nostril or an eye. If it’s just the down, it’ll sort itself out. probably fine to go in the brooder, just watch to make sure your first one isn’t picking on it. Sometimes the early hatchers aren’t that nice to newcomers. I usually make sure they get a drink of electrolyte water before I put them into the brooder and leave them to their own devices, especially if they’re still a little sluggish.

ETA: also just keep in mind that the really tardy ones sometimes don’t make it - sometimes there’s a reason they’re slow or don’t hatch properly, and there’s only so much you can do. Supportive care once they’re out, keep a close eye on it, and make sure it’s taking in some water, as they can get pretty dehydrated quite quickly while in the incubator, especially when there’s a fan blowing.

Thank you. Ok I will do that. Yes I know the cycle of life isnt always easy and sometimes you lose some. Sad but it is life. I'm glad to have had the experience and I am way more knowledgeable now. Kids think its SOOOOOO nifty so that right there is a win in my book.

 

[HopMomma]

I don’t usually try to clean any sticky stuff off, they chill easily. It will eventually dry and flake off. The only time I do anything with it if they’ve got some membrane dried on or whatever, is if it’s over anything important like a nostril or an eye. If it’s just the down, it’ll sort itself out. probably fine to go in the brooder, just watch to make sure your first one isn’t picking on it. Sometimes the early hatchers aren’t that nice to newcomers. I usually make sure they get a drink of electrolyte water before I put them into the brooder and leave them to their own devices, especially if they’re still a little sluggish.

ETA: also just keep in mind that the really tardy ones sometimes don’t make it - sometimes there’s a reason they’re slow or don’t hatch properly, and there’s only so much you can do. Supportive care once they’re out, keep a close eye on it, and make sure it’s taking in some water, as they can get pretty dehydrated quite quickly while in the incubator, especially when there’s a fan blowing.

Its covering his eye and head how to I safely attempt to get it off? Drop of water? Dry soft toothbrush?

 

[Trisseh]

Its covering his eye and head how to I safely attempt to get it off? Drop of water? Dry soft toothbrush?

Can you snap a quick pic? That’ll help in deciding whether you need to do anything with it or not.

 

[HopMomma]

Can you snap a quick pic? That’ll help in deciding whether you need to do anything with it or not.

Here you go

 

[Trisseh]

Here you go

Poor little gaffer. He doesn’t look too sticky, just his head which makes sense since that was the area that was mostly exposed while in the egg. If it’s glued his eyelid shut you can take a warm wet cloth or use a warm wet cotton swab and gently wipe it, same as you would with any other delicate area. I wouldn’t soak too much of him though. My bigger concern would be the positioning of his head and neck. Does he straighten them out at all? If you tip him up so he’s sitting up on his belly, does he stay that way or does he flip around? You mentioned he was on his back for a longer period of time. Sometimes that can be an indication of some neurological problems. But they can also be extremely uncoordinated for a while after hatching so something to watch for now.

 

[HopMomma]

Poor little gaffer. He doesn’t look too sticky, just his head which makes sense since that was the area that was mostly exposed while in the egg. If it’s glued his eyelid shut you can take a warm wet cloth or use a warm wet cotton swab and gently wipe it, same as you would with any other delicate area. I wouldn’t soak too much of him though. My bigger concern would be the positioning of his head and neck. Does he straighten them out at all? If you tip him up so he’s sitting up on his belly, does he stay that way or does he flip around? You mentioned he was on his back for a longer period of time. Sometimes that can be an indication of some neurological problems. But they can also be extremely uncoordinated for a while after hatching so something to watch for now.

So after giving him some sugar water and a lite scrub in the very steamy bathroom he is doing much better with lifting his head and trying to stand. He does however have some gnarly eyelids boogies which I didnt want to mess with. I'm a picker and can overdo it so I sought best to just leave it be. I did run a warm wet qtip over the area to lossen some of the yucky hard stuff. Again he is looking way stronger now. He is back in the incubator and on the washcloth I have him on. Sleeping

 

[Trisseh]

So after giving him some sugar water and a lite scrub in the very steamy bathroom he is doing much better with lifting his head and trying to stand. He does however have some gnarly eyelids boogies which I didnt want to mess with. I'm a picker and can overdo it so I sought best to just leave it be. I did run a warm wet qtip over the area to lossen some of the yucky hard stuff. Again he is looking way stronger now. He is back in the incubator and on the washcloth I have him on. Sleeping

Probably just exhausted and a little dehydrated then. Great job!

 

[HopMomma]

Probably just exhausted and a little dehydrated then. Great job!

Eating from syringe and drinking, pooped 3x today. Its a little sticky but it is poop. lifting & holding its head up better, walking weird and not for long. Here are some pictures to see what I'm dealing with. Also should I put something over the belly button? I put neosporin (none pain relief) each time i take him out to keep it moist but it's super duper dry. I'm changing the base of the brooder on his side each time he poops! I had to put a divider in the brooder due to the other one wanting to peck him over.

 

[Trisseh]

Eating from syringe and drinking, pooped 3x today. Its a little sticky but it is poop. lifting & holding its head up better, walking weird and not for long. Here are some pictures to see what I'm dealing with. Also should I put something over the belly button? I put neosporin (none pain relief) each time i take him out to keep it moist but it's super duper dry. I'm changing the base of the brooder on his side each time he poops! I had to put a divider in the brooder due to the other one wanting to peck him over.

Looks much improved! Great nursing care. some of those first poops are quite interesting. Haha.
at this point I would probably discontinue the ointment and let the navel dry out. He should have closed it off on the inside by now so you should be good just to keep him on clean bedding. You can use paper towel on top of the towel if you want something easy to change out, and then change the main towel if it becomes excessively soiled. It’ll save you some laundry and won’t make a difference to the little one. Lol.

His legs/feet look like typical just hatched ducklings and should straighten out over the next few days, but watch him to make sure he doesn’t develop splay leg. Hobble him if necessary, but he’ll probably strengthen up on his own. that nubby shelf liner stuff is really nice for when you need a bit more traction so may be an idea if he’s having trouble keeping his legs under him too.

my little one that took forever to hatch was a problem child as well but he’s doing great now, so it’s definitely possible to nurse them through. He had issues after the bigger, older ones ran him over and needed to be in a separate brooder, too. And he had hobbles for a day or so.

You’re doing an excellent job, keep on keeping on and deal with issues as they arise.