i think my ducklings are waterlogged or close to it

[duccythicc]

Hi, I have two 2 week old ducklings. They've been perfectly healthy from what I could tell until tonight. I noticed that one of them could barely stand up and wasn't touching the starter feed or water. It's feet looked desaturated and scrunched up. I did a bit of quick research on the same site I'm typing this on and determined that they are likely waterlogged.

I have since put a shirt in a cardboard box and placed the ducklings in there to try and warm them up and their heat lamp is off to the side so it's still heating them but not directly on top of them. Can I save them? Am I doing this right? What do I do in the morning? Thank you for any responses.

 

[azygous]

Ducklings are not waterproof. They do get waterlogged, and then they develop hypothermia and can die if not warmed quickly. Warm some towels in the dryer. Be sure it's not so hot it burns your skin. Then wrap each baby in a warm towel. Keep changing the warm towels until each duckling is warm and dry.

Treat for hypothermia by giving warm sugar water to infuse each baby with instant heat producing calories.

 

[duccythicc]

Ducklings are not waterproof. They do get waterlogged, and then they develop hypothermia and can die if not warmed quickly. Warm some towels in the dryer. Be sure it's not so hot it burns your skin. Then wrap each baby in a warm towel. Keep changing the warm towels until each duckling is warm and dry.

Treat for hypothermia by giving warm sugar water to infuse each baby with instant heat producing calories.

Thank you for replying so quickly. I'm unable to heat towels with my dryer right now, do you think that being in the box with the shirt along with their heat lamp will be enough to heat them?

Right now they're cuddling each other and I know that's an indicator that they're cold. I plan to keep an eye on them and making sure they're drying.

 

[Anime2lover]

Thank you for replying so quickly. I'm unable to heat towels with my dryer right now, do you think that being in the box with the shirt along with their heat lamp will be enough to heat them?

Right now they're cuddling each other and I know that's an indicator that they're cold. I plan to keep an eye on them and making sure they're drying.

Do you have a heating pad? You can use that under a towel to help give them the same kind of direct warmth that the heated towel would.

 

[azygous]

They need direct contact heat. The next best thing is to use a hair blow dryer on them. Turn them on their backs and blow warm air on their tummies and under their tiny wing pits. That's where most of their blood circulation is.

Time is crucial. If you have no hair dryer, heat some dish towels in the microwave. That can make them burning hot, do test it on the inside of your arm first so your don't end up scalding the patients.

Have you given them the warm sugar water? If not, they may die before you get a sense of urgency.

 

[duccythicc]

They need direct contact heat. The next best thing is to use a hair blow dryer on them. Turn them on their backs and blow warm air on their tummies and under their tiny wing pits. That's where most of their blood circulation is.

Time is crucial. If you have no hair dryer, heat some dish towels in the microwave. That can make them burning hot, do test it on the inside of your arm first so your don't end up scalding the patients.

Have you given them the warm sugar water? If not, they may die before you get a sense of urgency.

I did as you advised. I got a towel and held each one for about 5 minutes and they drank sugar water. After they had sugar water, they had a bit of regular water (not cold, not hot). Is this all I should do? Do you think they'll be okay?

They're now together back in the box I talked about with their heat lamp. They seemed to be happy and were playing while I held the water dish for them to drink. (at no point were their bodies in contact with the water)

 

[Stipenvlerk]

They need direct contact heat. The next best thing is to use a hair blow dryer on them. Turn them on their backs and blow warm air on their tummies and under their tiny wing pits. That's where most of their blood circulation is.

Time is crucial. If you have no hair dryer, heat some dish towels in the microwave. That can make them burning hot, do test it on the inside of your arm first so your don't end up scalding the patients.

Have you given them the warm sugar water? If not, they may die before you get a sense of urgency.

If I find my duckling is to cold (which luckily seldom happens) and there is no heat available,
I do the following: (I know it's gross and maybe you don't want to try this...)
I tuck my duck under my shirt against my bare skin. With my warm hand over them. So they are cocooning agains my belly and hand.
They will be warm in no-time

Just my two cents

 

[azygous]

Behavior will tell you if the babies are going to be okay. Normal playing is a very good sign. Good work.

 

[duccythicc]

Behavior will tell you if the babies are going to be okay. Normal playing is a very good sign. Good work.

Thank you for helping. I had no idea what to do under such a circumstance and from what I'm learning, your help likely saved their lives.