New and Nervous!! HELP please

[Hopin4raon]

This morning I went ahead and helped it unzip since it was on day 29. I took the shell part off in a line like the baby would do and didn't unzip the bottom. (so a semi circle) I pinched the white membrane so it would be easy to tear and put it back. It pushed its way out a few minutes later. I was already late for work so when I got back today, it was the first thing I checked. It is very lively BUT...OMG it has a small grape sized yolk sac still not absorbed. I called vet. She said I could put iodine and triple antibac AROUND the yolk sack on the belly but NOTHING on the yolk itself. And to put it in as clean and sterile environment as possible and restrict movement. I did that and put it in a clean bowl full of paper towels, put more on top, and then taped a spaghetti strainer on top and taped it on (with Duck Tape of course) to keep it from jumping out. She said if it does not absorb by tomorrow, she can do a simple procedure to tie it off.... I just NEED to keep it from becoming septic. omg.. omg...omg.... so much drama in such a little package. Here is my duck prison...

Love the duck prison!! I sure hope everything turns out ok. It sounds like it should be fine if it is so lively! Mine have just been so lethargic... hoping they will pull through. I’ll be thinking about you. Hoping it goes well!

 

[Hopin4raon]

Good job with putting them in the cups. Hopefully they finish absorbing quickly

Thank you!! I sure hope so

 

[Hopin4raon]

Oh, what ON EARTH is that little black duckling you have???? I can't wait to hear what you name that cute little stinker...

I have no idea! They were all “supposed to be” Rouhens but then I had these two surprises. I’m thinking maybe a Cayuga.... my 4 year old wants to name it Black Eye.... I’m not so sure about that name

 

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

I had a barred rock chick whose belly button went septic this Spring. It went from bold and lively to weak and dead overnight. After that I have the iodine ready to dab on the umbilical cord BUT I can't do that with a yolk sack sticking out of it. I am scared some scary microbes already latched on and I can't do anything about it. I really owe it to the duck mom to try and do whatever I can for her babies since she died on her nest. I have 2 more of her eggs in the incubator. I quick candled them (they were put in incubator 3 days later since I got them from someone who had planned on eating the eggs and had them stored in their garage until we learned of mama duck's death). I see the other two eggs have a shadow in the air sac. I assume that is an internal pip. I only candled them to make sure I had the part of the egg with the most air pointing up since the duckling had riled everything up. Still a waiting game... I am sure more drama to come... more sleepless nights... probably another big vet bill in the making.

 

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

OMG I just googled "Cayuga duck"...OMG THAT IS A PRETTY BREED. I hope that is what it is. If so it has all the colors like an oil slick.

 

[Hopin4raon]

I had a barred rock chick whose belly button went septic this Spring. It went from bold and lively to weak and dead overnight. After that I have the iodine ready to dab on the umbilical cord BUT I can't do that with a yolk sack sticking out of it. I am scared some scary microbes already latched on and I can't do anything about it. I really owe it to the duck mom to try and do whatever I can for her babies since she died on her nest. I have 2 more of her eggs in the incubator. I quick candled them (they were put in incubator 3 days later since I got them from someone who had planned on eating the eggs and had them stored in their garage until we learned of mama duck's death). I see the other two eggs have a shadow in the air sac. I assume that is an internal pip. I only candled them to make sure I had the part of the egg with the most air pointing up since the duckling had riled everything up. Still a waiting game... I am sure more drama to come... more sleepless nights... probably another big vet bill in the making.

Oh wow!! That’s awful. I didn’t even know to worry about the belly buttons. I don’t have any iodine. Sounds like I may need to hunt down some Neosporin for their little tummies.
Hoping your little babies make it alright!! Good luck!

 

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

I should have thought of it with my first live hatch since I would do that to horse foals but it didn't cross my mind until AFTER the one chick that had the wildly infected belly button that died in my hand. After that happens though, you don't forget.

 

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

Here is a good thread I just found on it... https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/turkey-belly-button.335934/

 

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

omg.. just read to keep the unabsorbed yolk moist or the duck in a most environment... now I am confused and worried. Maybe I should add water to the duck prison???

 

[Hopin4raon]

This was my babies at 3:30 today. They were so weak and pitiful. I thought there was no hope for them.

And this is my miracle babies now!!
4 short hours later. What a miraculous recovery!!

I went to check on them and BOTH had lept out of their cups and were sitting in the bottom of the bator!!

They are going to spend the night in the bator together and if they are strong enough I will move them in with the other babies in the morning!!