Help with newly hatched duckling.

[kirrty]

I only had one duck egg in my incubator as my puppy got a little to playful with my duck. This is my only fertile egg from mother duck who is sadly no longer with us.
Baby duck hatched some time today I would say it's been out of the egg for a couple of hours. It hasn't moved much, it's head keep flipping to one side and it's like its going to sleep/weak? I'm not sure as it was my first time incubating and I'd be devastated if it didn't make it.
Is this normal behavior? I hatched some chicks last week and they were up and about in no time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I only had one duck egg in my incubator as my puppy got a little to playful with my duck. This is my only fertile egg from mother duck who is sadly no longer with us.
Baby duck hatched some time today I would say it's been out of the egg for a couple of hours. It hasn't moved much, it's head keep flipping to one side and it's like its going to sleep/weak? I'm not sure as it was my first time incubating and I'd be devastated if it didn't make it.
Is this normal behavior? I hatched some chicks last week and they were up and about in no time.

long hatch time can contribute to this it's hard work hatching and chicks just seem to pop out running and some ducklings too but most need a bit of time to rest up before hand. so hopefully with some rest you'll begin to notice improvement. If you don't have any get some poultry vitamins to add to the little ones drinking water when it begins to drink.You maybe able to get it to drink a tiny bit of water this afternoon but usually it's 24 hrs after hatch before they eat or drink.

Poultry Nutri Drench because you can actually give it full strength if you decide to use it remember to never force anything down the throat it can accidentally go into the air sac. Just dribble onto side of bill or gently right inside the bill with a dropper or needle less syringe.tiny amounts at a time. Please keep us updated on how the lil one is doing..

Very sorry for your loss.

Welcome to BYC

 

[kirrty]

Thank you for your reply. Duckling started drinking 24 hours after hatching and I showed it how to eat, it's very different from yesterday I thought I was going to lose it. I think it was very tired the hatching took around 48 hours. I'm now playing mumma duck to a very curious happy duckling.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you for your reply. Duckling started drinking 24 hours after hatching and I showed it how to eat, it's very different from yesterday I thought I was going to lose it. I think it was very tired the hatching took around 48 hours. I'm now playing mumma duck to a very curious happy duckling.

That is great news. Very happy for you.

If your not using duck starter for the lil one we always rec. that you add either niacin or brewers yeast to their diet for the first 10 weeks ducklings need more niacin that is in chick starter. For me it is easier to get Brewers yeast[not baking yeast] and add to top of feed daily but some use plain niacin tablets and crush and add to their drinking water it has to be plain niacin not time released or flush free. 125mg of niacin in a gallon of water or 1Tab of Brewers yeast to 1 cup of feed.
niacin deficiency can cause lameness and neurological problems


Please post some pics we'd love to see the lil one.