Seeking Advice!

[Stetsy'sMom]

I hatched 4 mandarin ducklings, but it has been 24 hours and none will eat or drink. One seems lethargic (just hatched yesterday evening) but the others don't. A really weird thing is they won't walk. They scoot around. I'm trying to get into a vet, but any advice until then would be appreciated. I have dipped their bills in electrolyte water and served them wet, smashed chick starter (non-medicated). No success.

 

[eggbert420]

What's the temperature of your brooder?

 

[Stetsy'sMom]

I'm using the Brinsea EcoGlow and the temp is registering ~90 degrees.

 

[chickens really]

I never force Ducklings to eat or drink...I make a soupy wet mash and I will peep and quick to them as I use my fingers to tap on the food dish....24 hours isn't that long to go without eating..They are still absorbing the yolk......

 

[eggbert420]

Ducklings don't eat for the first twenty-four hours after they hatch, since they're still absorbing nutrients from the yolk inside the egg they hatched from.
Very weak ducklings may need a little extra yolk nutrition before they're ready for starter crumbs. Feed them a bit of mashed duck egg yolk until they become more interested in the starter crumbs.