New duckling...

[Melaniear]

We've been watching chicks & ducklings hatch for over a week. Today a welsh harlequin hatched but still has attachment to egg sac. It hatched 11 hours ago. It also looks like the vent is external. What should I do? I've kept it in the incubator, so the "goo" stays moist & doesn't harden/get stuck on any other ducklings.

 

[silkiecuddles]

Hi! Congrats on your hatching ducks/chicks!

I dont know what to do for external vents, but I'll go find an expert for you!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

We've been watching chicks & ducklings hatch for over a week. Today a welsh harlequin hatched but still has attachment to egg sac. It hatched 11 hours ago. It also looks like the vent is external. What should I do? I've kept it in the incubator, so the "goo" stays moist & doesn't harden/get stuck on any other ducklings.

I'm assuming you are talking about the yolk sac?? When I had one hatched still attached I lined a coffee cup with a wet paper towel and put put it in there (it was a chick though, so it fit nicely.) And put it under the brooder light. It took most of the day/evening to absorb but eventually it did. The hard part is keeping them from rupturing it. Once that happens their survival rate drops way down.

As for the vent, I would not even chance a guess especially w/o a picture.

 

[Melaniear]

 

[silkiecuddles]

*gags*
I may not be able to eat dinner...

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I could be wrong, I am by no means an expert, but that looks like the "navel" to me, not the vent. The vent should be up toward the tail more, not under the chick. It looks like the last of the yolk sac, cord leftover to me. I'd put some antibiotic cream on it and just keep an eye on it. Maybe someone else will chime in with their opinion.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

*gags*
I may not be able to eat dinner...

You need a stronger stomach....lol

 

[Melaniear]

I could be wrong, I am by no means an expert, but that looks like the "navel" to me, not the vent. The vent should be up toward the tail more, not under the chick. It looks like the last of the yolk sac, cord leftover to me. I'd put some antibiotic cream on it and just keep an eye on it. Maybe someone else will chime in with their opinion.

Thank you. Any info is appreciated since this is our first time hatching eggs. We lost 1/5 chicks (at 24hrs old) and 1/7 ducklings (at 2 hrs old). Breaks my heart even though I know it happens.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you. Any info is appreciated since this is our first time hatching eggs. We lost 1/5 chicks (at 24hrs old) and 1/7 ducklings (at 2 hrs old). Breaks my heart even though I know it happens.

Oh no. Sorry to hear taht. Do you know why?

 

[WVduckchick]

I could be wrong, I am by no means an expert, but that looks like the "navel" to me, not the vent. The vent should be up toward the tail more, not under the chick. It looks like the last of the yolk sac, cord leftover to me. I'd put some antibiotic cream on it and just keep an eye on it. Maybe someone else will chime in with their opinion.

That's what I was thinking Amy. I had one like that, not quite that extreme, but it healed within a few (maybe 3?) days. I put Neosporin (without painkiller!!) on it a couple of times. Just make sure there is nothing rough for it to drag it on.