New to forum, but need help with duckling who came too soon

[Ladyxan]

Greetings all!

My daughter was checking on the baby duckling egg (we think hatching was coming soon) and her male duck nipped her on the back of the leg and made her drop it. Instead of just letting it crack on its own momma duck decided to open it up and now we have a preemie duckling. Daughter took the duckling from momma. We do not own an incubator, but I did buy a small Styrofoam cooler per my daughter's request. How do we keep little one warm without incubator and heat lamp? Can we put together anything?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Wicked Storm]

Oh no! I think you need to get an incubator. Do you have a picture of the duckling?

 

[Ladyxan]

Cannot afford an incubator and no I don't have a picture. Baby is in daughter's care and unsure if it's made it through the night yet.

 

[Wicked Storm]

Cannot afford an incubator and no I don't have a picture. Baby is in daughter's care and unsure if it's made it through the night yet.

Oh I'm sorry. How premature is the duck? Before we had an incubator we had to keep it in our hands for warmth, otherwise it may die.

 

[Ladyxan]

We are unsure of when it was supposed to hatch; thus, why daughter was checking on it. This is our first fertilized egg.

Long story short, we had a broody momma, we candled eggs before removing them and one day daughter found a fertilized egg. Unsure how long it had been there since we were allowing momma to sit on eggs for a few days before taking any. It was lessening the nipping of the other two females by letting her sit on them, fertile or not.

 

[BullChick]

A non-LED bulb should give enough heat. I’d let momma do her job though. Should she kill it, she likely knows it won’t make it.
Also, wrapping it in a washcloth, and placing it in her cleavage allows her to keep it warm while keeping an eye on it, and her hands free.

 

[Ladyxan]

Daughter just brought baby in. Very vocal, not holding up head, nor opening eyes, and not fluffy yet, but here it is. We will go get brewers yeast and add it to duck food. Praying this little one continues to thrive!

 

[Ladyxan]

Another

 

[Duckworth]

@Miss Lydia @casportpony

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is the belly protruding or is it in? In other words has the yolk sac been absorbed?