Our duckling has absorbed his yolk sac, but struggling to stand..

[AmyA248]

Hi to all and thank you so much for all your help!

Our little Pip has absorbed his yolk sac but is weak. He’s kicking like crazy and I’m afraid he will scratch his eyes out!
He’s obviously trying to stand but his neck is too weak.

I’ve been giving him “Save a Chick”electrolytes but he won’t eat.
I know now that his sac is absorbed that he’ll need to eat and I tried starter chic food and made a thin soupy paste, but he won’t take it. Should I put the gravy in a dropper because he needs his strength.

Why is he kicking so much through? He seems so frustrated by trying to stand.

Love to all,
Amy

 

[HeatherKellyB]

How long has it been since the yolk was absorbed? The yolk should have enough nutrients to safely get them by for 2 to 3 days.

 

[nuthatched]

He doesn't need to eat yet, in sac is inside him. Has he opened is eyes yet? Try egg yolk water with a bit of sugar, but birds that hatch early might not be okay in other places.

 

[AmyA248]

How long has it been since the yolk was absorbed? The yolk should have enough nutrients to safely get them by for 2 to 3 days.

Hi!
Thank you for your reply.
It was fully absorbed when we got up this morning. I keep his box next to my bed to I can continue to check on him and make sure the temperature and humidity stays correct.
Poor baby wants to stand so bad! He kicks like a wild man! Lol! Unfortunately he’s still to week to keep his neck up.

His brother/sister just hatched 15 minutes ago, that’s how early he was!
The new baby is strong and looks good! Thank The Lord!
It took him 3 minutes to hatch, he went from a TINY hole to being out in less then 3 minutes!
He can’t stand up in the incubator though and he keeps trying, I can’t see leaving him in that tiny thing for 24 hours!
Is it absolutely necessary that he stays in there for so long, or can I just wait until he’s completely dry?

Thank you so much!

Here’s our new addition “Otis”

 

[nuthatched]

It take awhile to learn to use legs, give it time :]

 

[AmyA248]

I forgot to ask, can I put Otis in with Pip?
I only have one brooding box and heat lamp. And do I have to have high humidity after they are born?
There’s no way to keep humidity in the brooding box. For Pip, because he was so premature, I put bowls of water in his box for humidity but that doesn’t work very well.
I don’t know if it would be good for little Pip to have his sibling with him when he’s so weak, or if it would help him…

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Hatching is very hard work. If he hatched recently, give him some time to get on his feet. Provide a non-slip surface.

Hi!
Thank you for your reply.
It was fully absorbed when we got up this morning. I keep his box next to my bed to I can continue to check on him and make sure the temperature and humidity stays correct.
Poor baby wants to stand so bad! He kicks like a wild man! Lol! Unfortunately he’s still to week to keep his neck up.

His brother/sister just hatched 15 minutes ago, that’s how early he was!
The new baby is strong and looks good! Thank The Lord!
It took him 3 minutes to hatch, he went from a TINY hole to being out in less then 3 minutes!
He can’t stand up in the incubator though and he keeps trying, I can’t see leaving him in that tiny thing for 24 hours!
Is it absolutely necessary that he stays in there for so long, or can I just wait until he’s completely dry?

Thank you so much!

Here’s our new addition “Otis”

As long as your brooder is warm enough for them, you can take them out of the incubator after they hatch. I usually wait until they're almost dry.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Congratulations on your adorable ducklings

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I agree since it just absorbed it's yolk it may take another two days for it to start eating and a few hours at least before it can attempt to stand. All of my assisted hatches and or those that hatched with yolk to absorb take much longer to find their legs and longer to start eating then those that hatched on their own. I give all of mine Poultry Cell to help perk them up and get them walking. Electrolytes are good, but I've found that those that hatched with yolk to absorb always need a good dose of niacin to help them walk. As far as the brooder goes humidity only is a concern for hatching. Your duckling can go with the others once dried and it will help keep it from being stressed, but it needs to be placed in a small container so it doesn't get trampled until it can stand on it's own. I keep a clear plastic food storage container for these instances so the duckling can still see the others.

 

[AmyA248]

Hatching is very hard work. If he hatched recently, give him some time to get on his feet. Provide a non-slip surface.

As long as your brooder is warm enough for them, you can take them out of the incubator after they hatch. I usually wait until they're almost dry.

Perfect! Thank you so much!!