The runt

[Wendy Felicia]

Hello. My Ancona just hatched out 7 ducklings. They are three days old. When I checked on them this a.m. there seems to be a runt and doesn't seem to be doing as well as the others. I brought it the house and have a hand towel around it loosely, sitting on chest under my sweatshirt. I got it some lukewarm honey water. Should I should I not be doing this? And is there anything else I could do?

Thanks

 

[DuckyDonna]

You could dribble some nutridrench along it's bill and see if he'll take it. Don't try to force it on him or he could aspirate. Also, scramble up some eggs and see if he'll take any of that.

 

[sourland]

Not a bad idea to warm up, provide vitamins and make sure that it is eating. I would return it to the mother as soon as is possible.

 

[Wendy Felicia]

Not a bad idea to warm up, provide vitamins and make sure that it is eating. I would return it to the mother as soon as is possible.

What type of vitamins?

 

[Wendy Felicia]

Update. Not doing well, on my lap with a heating pad in low. Seems to just want sleep, won't eat or drink on its own. I very gently with an eyedropper gave it a few drops of honey water. It's so weak, poor lil.

 

[quackiemama]

I am so sorry, do you happen to have any nutradrench that was mentioned above? It is boost of vitamins for the little thing. It helped with my little runt last year and now she is the queen B

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Update. Not doing well, on my lap with a heating pad in low. Seems to just want sleep, won't eat or drink on its own. I very gently with an eyedropper gave it a few drops of honey water. It's so weak, poor lil.

I think you are doing wonderfully - it was hard for me to accept this year that no matter what I did, I couldnt save them all. I know it helped knowing I had done everything thing I could.

B-vits in honey'd water helped ours that struggled

I am keeping it all crossed for you and your little'un and I am glad its not alone !

.

 

[Wendy Felicia]

This it's bum, feels like a hard dried poop. Tried gently with warm water to soften it. Didn't work

I think you are doing wonderfully - it was hard for me to accept this year that no matter what I did, I couldnt save them all. I know it helped knowing I had done everything thing I could.

B-vits in honey'd water helped ours that struggled

I am keeping it all crossed for you and your little'un and I am glad its not alone !

.

Thank you. Lil baby didn't make it. . Yes hard to accept I couldn't help it. Frustrating because I have no idea what went wrong.

 

[Wendy Felicia]

These are picks of it's bum, thought it might be pasty, waiting for an answer from cackle hatchery. All my originals came from them. Second one in two years that has died due to this, whatever this is

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

These are picks of it's bum, thought it might be pasty, waiting for an answer from cackle hatchery. All my originals came from them. Second one in two years that has died due to this, whatever this is

Someone with much more experience than me will probably chime in - but I think thats its belly button, where it attached to the yolk sac in the egg.

If it happens again, leave the scab there as its protecting the ducklings insides until it heals over and then the scab drops off. I have dabbed colloidal silver on ours with tummy scabs after being concerned about infection.

That does not guarantee that this little one would have made it though - and I am really sorry you lost them.