Muscovy duckling - can I save him?

[marie000]

So now our second batch of ducklings is born and it has gone really well, overall.

Most ducklings were born Sunday / Monday. 21 in total, 3 of which have died.
Yesterday (Tuesday), the mom took her 18 surviving babies out and did not seem interested in her nest anymore. So I went and cleaned out the egg shells and dead ducklings left there. As I was doing that, I heard a peep coming from one of the eggs. One more duckling was just starting to crack its egg. I figured the mom had moved on and wouldn't care for that last little one, so I took the egg inside under a warm light and slowly the duckling tried to get out. At some point it didn't look like he was going to make it out, so I slowly and carefully broke a bit more shell, and the little one was finally born.

It has now been 24 hours since he was born and he still looks weak. He is not able to stand or support his own head. He mostly lies there in a fetal position.
I made him a mix of water, hard-boiled egg yolk and some sugar and he has been drinking it. I have to hold him and and put his head near the food though, because he's not strong enough to move around.

Is there any hope for this little one? Anything else I can do for him?

Is there anything I should have done differently (in case a similar situation presents itself)?

 

[Miss Lydia]

So now our second batch of ducklings is born and it has gone really well, overall.

Most ducklings were born Sunday / Monday. 21 in total, 3 of which have died.
Yesterday (Tuesday), the mom took her 18 surviving babies out and did not seem interested in her nest anymore. So I went and cleaned out the egg shells and dead ducklings left there. As I was doing that, I heard a peep coming from one of the eggs. One more duckling was just starting to crack its egg. I figured the mom had moved on and wouldn't care for that last little one, so I took the egg inside under a warm light and slowly the duckling tried to get out. At some point it didn't look like he was going to make it out, so I slowly and carefully broke a bit more shell, and the little one was finally born.

It has now been 24 hours since he was born and he still looks weak. He is not able to stand or support his own head. He mostly lies there in a fetal position.
I made him a mix of water, hard-boiled egg yolk and some sugar and he has been drinking it. I have to hold him and and put his head near the food though, because he's not strong enough to move around.

Is there any hope for this little one? Anything else I can do for him?

Is there anything I should have done differently (in case a similar situation presents itself)?

Of course there hope, 2 years ago one of my ducks hatched out a duckling and attacked it right off thank goodness I found it and brought it inside I used Nutri Drench in it's water and it started coming around after about 2 days, don't over do on the sugar or it can have fatal results from too much. Save a chick is another good one. usually they don't need to eat till day 3 of hatching so you may not see a lot of interest in food. But never give up, give it warmth and all the TLC you have and hopefully it will pull through.

 

[mojoe]

Hi,I'm the owner of 3 Muscovies.the male and one female are new.they have housing but don't get closed in at night as my original girl just arrived on the river in our land!
She has taken to a high beech tree for the last 2 days,will she be sitting on eggs?
If so what is the timescale for chicks hatching?
Is this normal behaviour?
She is a lavender I believe,and has pretty blue eyes !
Mo

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi,I'm the owner of 3 Muscovies.the male and one female are new.they have housing but don't get closed in at night as my original girl just arrived on the river in our land!
She has taken to a high beech tree for the last 2 days,will she be sitting on eggs?
If so what is the timescale for chicks hatching?
Is this normal behaviour?
She is a lavender I believe,and has pretty blue eyes !
Mo

wow what a nice way to get a scovy have one just fly in lol i'd be worried she won't be there long though if she is roosting in a tree if you have owls or other birds of prey, I have to lock my flock in at night or I wouldn't have any left. .once she settles in she'll go to laying and most likely to brooding since it's in their blood so strong but you my never find her nest if you don't provide her with a safe quiet place to lay her eggs. it takes 35-37 days from the time she starts sitting continually would love to see a pic of her and your others. and

.

 

[marie000]

sad update: the poor little guy passed away during the night. I was able to make him eat a bit yesterday, but he never seemed to gain strength. He still wasn't holding his head or even peeping very much. Poor baby.

On the bright side, his brothers and sisters are doing great. I counted this morning to make sure all 18 were there, and I counted 19. I guess I had counted wrong the first time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

sad update: the poor little guy passed away during the night. I was able to make him eat a bit yesterday, but he never seemed to gain strength. He still wasn't holding his head or even peeping very much. Poor baby.

On the bright side, his brothers and sisters are doing great. I counted this morning to make sure all 18 were there, and I counted 19. I guess I had counted wrong the first time.

So sorry ...

 

[mojoe]

Hi,
Thanks miss lydia!
She has been appearing for food then going back to her tree.
Hopefully safe up there from predators..
She is a pretty smart girl and has stayed around a year with us so far.
We didn't name her for months (chuckles)just in case she moved on,but still here.
Probably should have got two females for company as planned,but felt so sorry for the mangy looking drake we took him!
Will leave her to it and see what comes..
Will post pics soon.
Mx

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi,
Thanks miss lydia!
She has been appearing for food then going back to her tree.
Hopefully safe up there from predators..
She is a pretty smart girl and has stayed around a year with us so far.
We didn't name her for months (chuckles)just in case she moved on,but still here.
Probably should have got two females for company as planned,but felt so sorry for the mangy looking drake we took him!
Will leave her to it and see what comes..
Will post pics soon.
Mx

Well if she has been at your place for a year then hopefully she will continue to live. I thought she had just flown in. I would still get a couple more girls, it's very hard on one duck to keep a drake happy they are so relentless. But of course she may just present you with some here shortly

And flying up into a tree will help her get away from his amorous affections if she is so inclined looking forward to pics. and why is the drake mangy? .