Premature duckling

[Coopcheney]

Hello, I have a female Muscovy who hid a nest and I found it today because I heard chirping. She had one egg that was cracked open and the duckling was next to it she has not been in the area for days and when I tried to. Ring her to the nest to assist the baby she was very violent toward it. There are no other eggs just this one. I have it in the house. Warm and it had a tiny bit of sugar water…but what’s next? I have never had this happen before and I don’t know what to do. Ducklings is under heat lamp in humid/warm place and sleeping. Any help would be great.

 

[ruthhope]

Thank you for caring for this little one

You did right to give sugar water initially. Please, now, get oral rehydration solution from the pharmacy shelves at your supermarket. If you can get flavor and color free Pedialyte, that is best (I have found it at my local Walmart) but grape seems to me to have the least coloring and other additives.

The reabsorbed yolk sack will provide nutrition for 1-2 days. Get a small bag of non-medicated poultry starter crumbles and some nutritional yeast (i find that Walmart own brand is the cheapest, but any other brand is just as good.) To get the little one eating, dip your little finger in the oral rehydration solution and then into the crumbles and offer your finger tip to the duckling. You might have to put a crumbles just inside the bill if the duckling doesn't nibble. Keep offering crumbles on your finger, frequently, initially. Keep the little one at 90F and let it rest between offering crumbles. I have rescusitated very sick new ducklings in this way. The intensive feeding by finger tip usually pays of within 24 hours. Once the duckling is feeding itself, add 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast to every cup of starter crumbles. Ducks need more niacin than chicks, and sick ducks need even more. Best to use nutritional yeast to prevent niacin deficiency. Don't wait for symptoms.

The duckling needs to be kept at 90 F for 1 week, then 85F for the second week, 80 for the third week and 75 for the fourth week. I find that fourth week ducklings are OK at lower temperature while running around during the day. But need 75F when they are resting/sleeping at night

Do let us know how you get on and post photos. We are all gaga about little fluffies!

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I also recommend giving poultry cell or nutri drench as a boost for when they first hatch and especially in a situation like this. You can put it in the water with some electrolytes. Though I would give a little bit in their mouth right away too if they are weak.