I absorbed yolk?

[Patriciaosborne]

yesterday I found this duckling in the nest and it looks as though mama maybe trampled the egg and /or pecked it open. I have had this little one in the incubator for 32 hours now keeping the protrusion most and keeping the duckling wrapped in a cup. The protrusion has shrunk slightly. Is this an unabsorbed yolk or something else? The duckling has been sleeping this whole time but will wake and move when I touch him.

 

[Everose]

Welcome to BYC!

I'm pretty sure these guys have dealt with similar stuff.
@AstroDuck @WVduckchick @FunnyfarmMidwest @shawluvsbirds @DuckyDonna

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Was the picture taken when the duckling was first moved to the incubator or right before posting? It looks to be a mixture of excrement and egg goop. Normally an unabsorbed yolk sac will be a buldge on the belly where the umbilical cord was attached and not liquid. Is there a way to get a clearer picture of it?

 

[Patriciaosborne]

The p

Was the picture taken when the duckling was first moved to the incubator or right before posting? It looks to be a mixture of excrement and egg goop. Normally an unabsorbed yolk sac will be a buldge on the belly where the umbilical cord was attached and not liquid. Is there a way to get a clearer picture of it?

the Picture was taken just now 32 hours after he was put in the incubator. I’ll try for a clearer picture.

 

[Patriciaosborne]

The p

the Picture was taken just now 32 hours after he was put in the incubator. I’ll try for a clearer picture.

 

[DuckyDonna]

That does look like the yolk to me. @WVduckchick?
Is all that shell and membrane still attached to it?

Usually what we do in this case is put a dry paper towel under it and put it in a little bowl or something so it can't move around and detach from the yolk. This one doesn't look too active so I guess you are probably ok with what you've got. If it starts to perk up and try to move around before absorbing all that yolk I would make a move to the paper towel and little bowl so it doesn't rip it's lifeline away.

 

[Patriciaosborne]

That does look like the yolk to me. @WVduckchick?
Is all that shell and membrane still attached to it?

Usually what we do in this case is put a dry paper towel under it and put it in a little bowl or something so it can't move around and detach from the yolk. This one doesn't look too active so I guess you are probably ok with what you've got. If it starts to perk up and try to move around before absorbing all that yolk I would make a move to the paper towel and little bowl so it doesn't rip it's lifeline away.

Yes it is still some shell and membrane still attached. I do have it in a tea cup but I used a moistened cloth under the shell and around the duckling. I will try a dry paper towel now and see how that goes. Thank you for the help!! What is the maximum time I should wait to see if the yolk absorbs before I try something else? It’s already been 32 hours so will a little more time be ok to wait? Thank you

 

[DuckyDonna]

Yes it is still some shell and membrane still attached. I do have it in a tea cup but I used a moistened cloth under the shell and around the duckling. I will try a dry paper towel now and see how that goes. Thank you for the help!! What is the maximum time I should wait to see if the yolk absorbs before I try something else? It’s already been 32 hours so will a little more time be ok to wait? Thank you

You don't want to use a wet towel I think because it may get chilled. Is it awake at all? When they are absorbing they usually yawn. Is any of that going on?

As long as it's still alive I wouldn't do anything else. I really don't know what else you could do which is why I tagged @WVduckchick. Hopefully, she will come on soon but for now, it looks like you're doing all you can do.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

In the latest picture I agree it does look a little more like yolk. I've had it before where all of the egg goo, poo and yolk stuck together like glue to the shell and ended up having to slowly with a wet rag wash off the extra excrement/goo so the yolk could fully absorb. Do you know what day the eggs were on when you found this little one? That would let us know how long it should ideally take to absorb the yolk sac. For example a duckling that hatches 2 days early vs. 1 day early will take an extra day or two to fully absorb the yolk. If you are keeping it in the incubator I use a warm damp wash cloth. If you're not then go with a dry one. If the little one does make it I would get it on some poultry cell or whatever supplement you use. I've had many assisted hatches due to the breed I hatch and every single one needed continued extra care for the first few days once moved to the brooder.

 

[Patriciaosborne]

You don't want to use a wet towel I think because it may get chilled. Is it awake at all? When they are absorbing they usually yawn. Is any of that going on?

As long as it's still alive I wouldn't do anything else. I really don't know what else you could do which is why I tagged @WVduckchick. Hopefully, she will come on soon but for now, it looks like you're doing all you can do.

No yawning yet but he is stimulated by touch. I thank you for your help and will wait and watch.