Please help...early hatcher not eating yet

[fawnvb]

The duckling we had issues with is still alive. However, it hasn't eaten yet.. it hatched on 1st... with yolk attached. Yolk is gone.. area looks good. He sleeps a lot... drinks when I get it to... I was told to give it pedialite which I do by syringe . I keep it warm.. he chirps and moves his legs a lot. Does it have a chance??? Can anyone give me advice or do I need to euthanize him?

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I wouldn't be in a rush to euthanize. Today is 4th...so if it hatched on the 1st... Your duckling should be eating soon. Have you tried gently dipping it's beak into food and water? Especially water!

 

[fawnvb]

Last night he actually drank some pedialite by itself..not much but some. As i was holding him after i gave it some...we were on the floor he started to dab and seemed to b searching ...i tried to give it some feed but i guess it was so tired it fell asleep. He also hasnt had a bowl movement like the others ive hatched had on their 2nd day. Is that ok? He is sweet. This am i gave him some pedialite before i had to go to work... He chirped a little n then went back to aleep.

 

[shicks0211]

have you tried putting some feed in water to make sort of a mash..and then dip his beak in it..i find after they hatch (and if they haven't started eating on their own after a day) i dip their beak in water..and in some feed..that generally starts them eating on their own..you may have to do it a couple times..what kind of duck is it? is it a mandarin or a wood duck?

 

[fawnvb]

Yes Ive made a mash of feed n pedialite...hes getting pedialite by syringe but last night he drank on his own for 1 st time. They are cayuga ducks.

 

[shicks0211]

cuyogas usually hit the ground running and eat on their own fairly quickly..within 24 hours usually. keep trying and he may pull through..did you say there was a problem with the hatch?

 

[fawnvb]

yeah... mama flipped out and started tearing apart eggs and attacking the first hatchling. We pulled the eggs inside with the baby...we've had two successful hatchings before this last one . I believe the room got too warm and he hatched with yolk still attached. He was almost out and stayed that way for over 24 hours...he was half in half out. we finally eased him out...yolk still was not absorbed so we used corn starch to stop the bleeding and applied Neosporin. I don't think he can see... it seems his inner eye lid is dried over the actual eye. Will he survive not being able to see?

 

[Miss Lydia]

yeah... mama flipped out and started tearing apart eggs and attacking the first hatchling. We pulled the eggs inside with the baby...we've had two successful hatchings before this last one . I believe the room got too warm and he hatched with yolk still attached. He was almost out and stayed that way for over 24 hours...he was half in half out. we finally eased him out...yolk still was not absorbed so we used corn starch to stop the bleeding and applied Neosporin. I don't think he can see... it seems his inner eye lid is dried over the actual eye. Will he survive not being able to see?

Can you get some saline eye wash or terrimycin eye ointment or Veterycin spray all 3 would be good to use in and around the eyes, it maybe they just need a couple days of lubrication to get the eye lids open.I have a friend who has a blind goose and she does wonderful, you just have to keep everything in their pen the same so they learn a routine of where their feed and water is.

 

[fawnvb]

I dont think hes gonna make it through the night.. if he does itll be a miracle. still wont take food even mash... Its heartbraking .... any last advice?

 

[shicks0211]

poor thing..i know it's heartbreaking, there must be something wrong with him internally since he wasn't really ready to hatch when mama broke him out.