Muscovy ducking- Please help

[Sweetlilbaby]

I have a duckling that I thought wasn't going to hatch... Let me start from the beginning...
My two female ducks sat on eggs once most hatched they began fighting over the eggs so i took the eggs away due to them actually cracking them while fighting over the eggs.
I put them in the incubator that night all but one hatched of those eggs. a few days later i candled that one egg saw no movement. I figured it had been days it was a dude. I cracked it to do an eggtopsy. I got it half peeled out when its head popped up and it gasped for air like it had been sufficating in the egg.
The bill is messed up. it's missing about 45% of the top bill. Just didn't form. everything else about it is fine and normal. but due to the deformity it hasn't been able to eat enough food to thrive, I've got it in a tote with a light and water dish it's drinking fine. I have started feeding it baby food (pureed veggies mostly with fish oil mixed in) using a dropper.
Any suggestions on how to better care for this duckling? I feel bad because the other 18 ducklings are out with the moms. This one has had a hard time of it. and the moms attack me if i have it in my hands so i cannot leave it out there and feed it several times a day.

 

[duckyfromoz]

The missing top mandible is most likely why it hadnt been able to hatch naturally - so you have at least saved its life by getting it out of the egg.

In time it may learn to be able to eat better on its own- but it may always need special attention to make sure it does get enough to eat. Ducks can adapt so well to certain deformities- but unless you have the time available to care for this little one- you could also look to getting it into a place that may specialise in caring for special needs waterfowl. I do see a number of waterfowl rescue operations in the USA that may be able to assist you or offer help in some way if you do want to continue raising this little guy. I recently saw photos of a swan who has had an artificial bill made for it- amazing what can be done for animals these days. There is also buttercup a duck who has had a foot made from 3D printing to allow him to walk.

From my experience with caring for disabled ducks- apart from getting enough food the biggest issue I see for the little one is in summer when the missing bill section will allow the tongue to dry out- so provision of plenty of water day and night will be necessary.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

I don't work, my time is devoted to my animals. So i have plenty of time for it. It has begun attempting to scoop up food on it's own. it is of course smaller then the rest the ducklings.
I'm going to boil some eggs today to blend with liquid, fish oil, and greenbeans. Trying to make a well rounded meal based on what the adults eat. but also trying to add a boost of protein because this lil one cannot catch and eat bugs.
I do check it's tongue several times a day giving it a drip of water or dipping it's bill into some water to try to get it to drink on it's own.

I am happy to say that with my help it is no longer just surviving but beginning to thrive. For me this is all a learning experience. If i knew what exactly to feed and all it may have done better to begin with. The duckling i've now named "puppy" is learning to look forward to the dropper because it means extra food. It also enjoys following me and my dogs around when i let it down.
But outside trips don't happen right now because last time it took off to be with the other ducklings and the mothers attacked me when i went to feed it.