CLM06
Hatching
Hello All,
We had our first go at incubating eggs from our flock. Of 25 eggs we had 6 fertile eggs and 3 hatch, one pipped and tried to come, but it was almost a week early and died in the process, or we would have had 4. Of the 3, 2 are perfectly healthy adorable ducklings. But, we have one that is having so many troubles and I'm desperate to help it. Hubby and I are both new to incubating so I'm not sure what to do. I've been researching for days, but I figured I'd ask and see what I could get from all of you lovely duck lovers!
The duckling is just about 3 days old. It had splayed leg in it's left leg which we've taped up to help, but it's hardly growing or holding it's head up. I'm not sure if it's wry neck or not because it's not twisted, and can lean back when it's drinking but usually, it just droops straight down and it's beak touches the towel. It's chirping and making noises, but then I'm also hearing somewhat of a slight clicking sound, which makes me think it's having trouble breathing. It isn't very active and spends most of it's time sleeping. At the moment, we have the other two ducklings in a brooder together and this one on it's own in a box with some towels, a light, and food and water on our dining room table. I've made a little nest of sorts with extra towels that it spends most of it's time in, unless I can sit and hold it for a bit to keep it warm. I am home all day and check on it regularly. I'm trying to make sure it's drinking, which it will assisted but not on it's own. I added a bit of brewers yeast to it's food and water to give it some extra niacin. I'm also trying to get it to eat but it hardly does. It's hardly growing at all, the duckling that hatched the day after this one is already bigger. I fear that there isn't much hope for this little one, which makes me so sad, but I'm hoping there's at least a few things I can try? Every night I go to bed thinking this will be the night it doesn't make it, and every morning it's still chugging along.
Thanks in advance!!
We had our first go at incubating eggs from our flock. Of 25 eggs we had 6 fertile eggs and 3 hatch, one pipped and tried to come, but it was almost a week early and died in the process, or we would have had 4. Of the 3, 2 are perfectly healthy adorable ducklings. But, we have one that is having so many troubles and I'm desperate to help it. Hubby and I are both new to incubating so I'm not sure what to do. I've been researching for days, but I figured I'd ask and see what I could get from all of you lovely duck lovers!
The duckling is just about 3 days old. It had splayed leg in it's left leg which we've taped up to help, but it's hardly growing or holding it's head up. I'm not sure if it's wry neck or not because it's not twisted, and can lean back when it's drinking but usually, it just droops straight down and it's beak touches the towel. It's chirping and making noises, but then I'm also hearing somewhat of a slight clicking sound, which makes me think it's having trouble breathing. It isn't very active and spends most of it's time sleeping. At the moment, we have the other two ducklings in a brooder together and this one on it's own in a box with some towels, a light, and food and water on our dining room table. I've made a little nest of sorts with extra towels that it spends most of it's time in, unless I can sit and hold it for a bit to keep it warm. I am home all day and check on it regularly. I'm trying to make sure it's drinking, which it will assisted but not on it's own. I added a bit of brewers yeast to it's food and water to give it some extra niacin. I'm also trying to get it to eat but it hardly does. It's hardly growing at all, the duckling that hatched the day after this one is already bigger. I fear that there isn't much hope for this little one, which makes me so sad, but I'm hoping there's at least a few things I can try? Every night I go to bed thinking this will be the night it doesn't make it, and every morning it's still chugging along.
Thanks in advance!!