Premature ducking not doing great

[Chloejane331]

My duckling hatched prematurely and has really been struggling! She won’t stand, or eat. She only takes tiny drinks of water, and is breathing pretty heavy. It’s been 2 days of this now and I’m getting a little worried. I’ve been giving her vitamins in her water, and have kept her in the incubator. Anything else I can do to help her pull through? She does try to stand, even though she just flops back over, and tries to life her head. She is also making small peeping noises every once in a while.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Perhaps try some sugar water or electrolyte solution. It may need some quick energy to get going. I'd also take it out of the incubator which can be too moist.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Oh my, nothing to do but wait. Do you have other ducklings?

 

[Isaac 0]

I would move her out of the incubator, into a warm, towel-lined area with a shallow feed and water fish provided. I agree with @oldhenlikesdogs , dripping a drop of an electrolyte, sugar water, or a poultry vitamin such as Nutri-dench along her bill would be good. Please use caution when giving birds this young fluids orally as they often don't have the whole "how to drink" thing down, and can easily aspirate. So give one drop at a time, just along her bill, giving her intermediate breaks.

You can also try offering her warm soupy feed, and mashed scrambled eggs. If not in too bad of condition, weighing her on a gram scale to monitor her weight would be a good idea too.

 

[Chloejane331]

Oh my, nothing to do but wait. Do you have other ducklings?

Sadly no. Her mama was killed by my neighbors loose dog, and she was the only egg.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I would move her out of the incubator, into a warm, towel-lined area with a shallow feed and water fish provided. I agree with @oldhenlikesdogs , dripping a drop of an electrolyte, sugar water, or a poultry vitamin such as Nutri-dench along her bill would be good. Please use caution when giving birds this young fluids orally as they often don't have the whole "how to drink" thing down, and can easily aspirate. So give one drop at a time, just along her bill, giving her intermediate breaks.

You can also try offering her warm soupy feed, and mashed scrambled eggs. If not in too bad of condition, weighing her on a gram scale to monitor her weight would be a good idea too.