Strange Hatching

[NCVic]

My Momma duck had 18 eggs in the nest and only hatched 4. During the hatching process. the Momma duck carried one of the hatching eggs to a bucket of water, dumped it in - it smelled of rotten egg. Three of the hatchlings are fine but number 4 got left behind. It smelled of rotten egg when we picked it up. It's legs seem ok but it only uses one at a time. Favors one over the other but can go in frantic circles on either leg. Hard to watch. It does better in the water but cannot stay there long as it has no feathers yet & still has the tendency to use one leg more than the other at any given time, sometimes left sometimes right. I read the post on niacin deficiency and will get some B-complex taday even though the symptoms don't exactly fit. It has tons of energy, gets out of the laundry basket with nice comfy towels to sit on and scurries around on the tile floor (avoiding the rugs) flips over, rights itself and scoots along repeating the process until finally finding a place to rest usually against a solid surface with overhang. I can keep it in the dark & that seems to calm it down.
Do I need to put this duckling down? I will try the vitamins before I do anything but need to know if this is worth it. Has anyone ever had ducks hatching that smelled of rotten egg?
Thanks for any advice you can give

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Give the little guy some time. I incubate so don't know about the smell but they can be resilient little creatures. I would give the B vitamins as they won't hurt. I do find it worrisome that the mom abandoned him.

 

[NCVic]

Give the little guy some time. I incubate so don't know about the smell but they can be resilient little creatures. I would give the B vitamins as they won't hurt. I do find it worrisome that the mom abandoned him.

Thanks, I will keep trying. Finding the recommended vitamins difficult to locate but working on it. It's a little hectic because I have a hen that hatched out 5 of 10 chicks & my shelter for them has collapsed! The little duckling just seems manic in his behavior, wonder about brain damage but refuse to worry! Will update as I give the b-vitamins.
Thanks again

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

I don't know where you are but TSC should have what you need. If you have some vitamin e capsules that wouldn't hurt either. Is he eating, drinking and pooping?

 

[NCVic]

I don't know where you are but TSC should have what you need. If you have some vitamin e capsules that wouldn't hurt either. Is he eating, drinking and pooping?

Yes to all. Drinking is harder because the manic nature of it's movements mean the water is turned over a lot. Eating is easier as I can stack the food and let it grab what it wants. Acts like it's starving, grabbing at food. Went to TSC and a very rude person tried to sell me a huge bottle of something that required a syringe to get it out of the bottle. When I told her it was for a duck she looked at me like I was crazy and said that was all they had & it required a syringe. Told me if I had the right food it would take care of any issues. Tried another store but most have b-vitamins for larger animals. I have liquid b-complex from Walmart, looking to see how the ingredients compare to the recommended brand.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How old is this little duckling? just a few days? just start with a few drops of the Liquid B complex to start with try dribbling it along the bill and see if he'll drink it if not then just a drop or 2 right inside the bill. don't shoot it down the throat.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That was what you wanted at TSC you just peel the top of the foil, the rubber stopper is just like a lid for us who use a needleless syringe to get out the liquid. pull the rubber stopper out and suck out the liquid.

 

[NCVic]

How old is this little duckling? just a few days? just start with a few drops of the Liquid B complex to start with try dribbling it along the bill and see if he'll drink it if not then just a drop or 2 right inside the bill. don't shoot it down the throat.

About 4 days old. I have used a very diluted mixture of the liquid B-complex that I have and pretty much done it like you said. It grabs at the end of the dropper & is quick! Have to be careful but no forcing of the liquid, just dripping & letting it grab it. Should I be using the B complex undiluted?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nope straight. You want him to get full dose. I'd give it a couple times a day if he is taking it so well.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

That was what you wanted at TSC you just peel the top of the foil, the rubber stopper is just like a lid for us who use a needleless syringe to get out the liquid. pull the rubber stopper out and suck out the liquid.

Yes sorry I should have been more clear, you want injectable B for cattle but we all give it orally.