Please help! It's day 27 with no movement or internal pip from the duckling, what should I do?!

[Cocelean]

It looks normal to me. Sometimes ducklings get too much in their mouth and they do spit out food. What type of container do you have for his water?

Oh ok that's good to hear! Lol he's trying to type for me right now! I use a ramekin for water and a lid for food - mixed his crumbs with water too.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Oh ok that's good to hear! Lol he's trying to type for me right now! I use a ramekin for water and a lid for food - mixed his crumbs with water too.

As long as he can stick his eyes and nares in the water, it will be fine. But if it's too small he can have issues - one is choking. He definitely will outgrow that fast. If you take a plastic container with a lid and cut holes in it big enough to stick his whole head in, it will be better for him in the long run.
@Miss Lydia has a good photo of watering options to use for ducks so that they aren't as messy.

This is a good sticky to read through with lots of duck topics. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ducks-sticky-topics-index.256233/

This is the top link in that sticky about raising and caring for ducklings: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings.750869/

 

[Miss Lydia]

When using a heat plate you want the duckling to be able to touch the underside of the plate. https://www.premier1supplies.com/a/heating-plates-for-chicks

If your ducklings legs are slipping out to the side you may need to hobble to keep the leg in the proper position if it's spraddle legs. Or it could be the floor of the brooder is slippery and the duckling need to be on towels or matting like used for shelving so it can have traction.

 

[BelovedBirds]

He went under the heater but now it's a question of whether he comes out!
View attachment 2932093
Is this colouring normal?

I'm also a little worried because out of nowhere he started shaking his head and spitting/vomiting? out food.

Yeah so I spoke to my supervisor and he's fine with me bringing the duckling in - they've got a box there I can use so I'm going to bring the heater, food and water and set a smaller brooder there and check in on him every now and then - and he'll be in a car with heating on to stay nice and warm

how's he doing today? Is he still going underneath, but coming out often for food and water?

 

[Cocelean]

As long as he can stick his eyes and nares in the water, it will be fine. But if it's too small he can have issues - one is choking. He definitely will outgrow that fast. If you take a plastic container with a lid and cut holes in it big enough to stick his whole head in, it will be better for him in the long run.
@Miss Lydia has a good photo of watering options to use for ducks so that they aren't as messy.

This is a good sticky to read through with lots of duck topics. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ducks-sticky-topics-index.256233/

This is the top link in that sticky about raising and caring for ducklings: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings.750869/

Oh thank you! He can dip his nares and eyes in but he doesn't do that - just uses the front bit of his beak, I'm not sure how to get him to put his hole head in! I don't know if he has dry eyes either. Btw, When do you think I can let him have his first swim?

When using a heat plate you want the duckling to be able to touch the underside of the plate. https://www.premier1supplies.com/a/heating-plates-for-chicks

If your ducklings legs are slipping out to the side you may need to hobble to keep the leg in the proper position if it's spraddle legs. Or it could be the floor of the brooder is slippery and the duckling need to be on towels or matting like used for shelving so it can have traction.
View attachment 2932156

Ooh thank you! That's really helpful - I'll see if I can get a container on Monday and try cutting holes in it like that

how's he doing today? Is he still going underneath, but coming out often for food and water?

So he came with me to the farm today - kept him warm throughout, nestled in my hoodie, and we set up a little brooder for him. At first he was coming out and peeping a lot, and even going on top so I lowered it a bit, and he went in under and sat in there by himself thankfully! Saw his parents and aunts too and pecked at them lol - they weren't a fan of him. Last night though, he spent it cuddled against one of the teddies, rather than staying under the heater - There's three teddies, one is a duck near the mirror, another is a bear under his heater, and another slightly larger bear in the corner to stop his escape - he stayed with the larger bear. He might not be going under because my room's pretty warm? Around 24-26 C

Oh by the way @BelovedPoultry, how are your ducklings going?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Oh thank you! He can dip his nares and eyes in but he doesn't do that - just uses the front bit of his beak, I'm not sure how to get him to put his hole head in! I don't know if he has dry eyes either. Btw, When do you think I can let him have his first swim?

Ooh thank you! That's really helpful - I'll see if I can get a container on Monday and try cutting holes in it like that

So he came with me to the farm today - kept him warm throughout, nestled in my hoodie, and we set up a little brooder for him. At first he was coming out and peeping a lot, and even going on top so I lowered it a bit, and he went in under and sat in there by himself thankfully! Saw his parents and aunts too and pecked at them lol - they weren't a fan of him. Last night though, he spent it cuddled against one of the teddies, rather than staying under the heater - There's three teddies, one is a duck near the mirror, another is a bear under his heater, and another slightly larger bear in the corner to stop his escape - he stayed with the larger bear. He might not be going under because my room's pretty warm? Around 24-26 C

Oh by the way @BelovedPoultry, how are your ducklings going?

generally they need it warmer than that in the brooder but for sure- that is warm for a room- and is bound to be more comfortable when he isnt under heat. As long as he's using the heater, and just choosing to spend more time out of it, I wouldnt worry, just keep encouraging him to use it as you have been, I'm sure he's doing fine
He sounds incredibly precious! Have you given him a name?
One of mine has been working at an internal pip today, slightly early, but he's doing pretty well!

 

[Crazy Maizie]

The duckling can have short swims in shallow water. Just make sure he's dry well enough. I used to put the ducklings in water while I was cleaning the brooder. Once I took them out, I let them dry under the heat lamp.

 

[Cocelean]

generally they need it warmer than that in the brooder but for sure- that is warm for a room- and is bound to be more comfortable when he isnt under heat. As long as he's using the heater, and just choosing to spend more time out of it, I wouldnt worry, just keep encouraging him to use it as you have been, I'm sure he's doing fine
He sounds incredibly precious! Have you given him a name?
One of mine has been working at an internal pip today, slightly early, but he's doing pretty well!

I've decided to name him aureate - aure for short because of his obsession with gold
And I'm glad to hear that! Hopefully you'll have a duckling on your hands soon!

The duckling can have short swims in shallow water. Just make sure he's dry well enough. I used to put the ducklings in water while I was cleaning the brooder. Once I took them out, I let them dry under the heat lamp.

Oh that's good to hear! I'll give him a little swim tomorrow morning because his brooder definitely needs a good clean - He poops a lot for a little guy!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Make sure the water you put your duckling in to play is nice and warm.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Make sure the water you put your duckling in to play is nice and warm.

I only used room temp water for the ducklings that I brooded and never had an issue. But, my ducklings were brooded in a building and weren't allowed in the house. Harder to get warm water out there - since it would have cooled off quickly.
My broody raised ducklings were in all sorts of water outdoors. I just let her do her thing.