Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[bhhastin]

Good morning! Well, our last duckling still isn't out yet. After we opened up that hole last night, he was able to widen it and appeared to be struggling a great deal. There appeared to be some red blood vessels, or they could have been wrinkles in the membrane. Around 9, I moistened it all over with a q-tip and then let it go until about 3 am. I woke up all worried and checked on it, but no progress. Since then, I've taken it out to moisten (with the shower on for humidity), and I've broken away some more of the shell. You can see in the pic below what it's like now. He keeps opening his bill and cheeping and appears to be struggling to free himself, but it's just not working. Part of me is worried he is stuck, but then part of me thinks he's just still connected to his yolk sac and doesn't want to push all the way out. Any ideas? We're over half way through day 28, the last one hatched out 14 hours ago. Will he die if he's stuck and I just wait it out, even though he can breathe and all? Should I keep moistening or am I just making it worse?

 

[bhhastin]

Sadly, I think it's not going to survive. He just pushed himself out of the shell, but there is blood in the shell and his umbilicus area is hugely swollen. He's lying on his side and having breathing spasms. I'll get a pic in a minute when I can bear to look again. It's a little upsetting.

 

[bhhastin]

Ok, got some pics. Is there anything I should be doing? Thinking maybe wrapping in a warm wet paper towel.

 

[Coyote Night]

I would let him rest and see what happens. I think he looks okay just needs to rest but If he is having trouble breathing it might not be a good outcome. I'm kind of a hands off hatcher though so I know others have given vitamin B supplements to boost weak babies. Celtic, Utah and Quackers have experience with the Poly-Vi-Sol

 

[bhhastin]

I think it may have rolled over and bumped the umbilicus, because there was blood when I went in to check it. I wrapped it in a damp paper towel and now the towel is turning pink from blood. This sucks. I saw something about using corn starch to dab on bleeding areas to stop bleeding, but we don't have any.

 

[Iain Utah]

I'm sorry your last duckling is struggling. Honestly, it does not look too good for him. I have placed weak ducklings like him in a small tupperware dish lined with soft cloth to keep them still, but your incubator may be too small to do this. For now, time is what he needs to absorb the yolk in his abdomen. Hope he makes it!!

 

[bhhastin]

Thanks Coyote & Utah. Well, first I put him in a tupperware container on his own under a separate lamp (first two pics), but he started cheeping up a storm and seemed to try to climb out (actually, first I put him in the container in the brooder, but all the other ducklings seemed to be getting him riled up), so I finally put him in a smaller bowl and back into the brooder with the others, he seemed so badly to want to be with them (I figure, if he's not going to make it, he should be content with his buds at least). I put out the main light and just have on the black heating light. That's everyone in the last two pics, seems to be relaxing. Hoping, hoping, hoping. I'm too soft-hearted for this.

 

[ChristineR]

Thanks Coyote & Utah. Well, first I put him in a tupperware container on his own under a separate lamp (first two pics), but he started cheeping up a storm and seemed to try to climb out (actually, first I put him in the container in the brooder, but all the other ducklings seemed to be getting him riled up), so I finally put him in a smaller bowl and back into the brooder with the others, he seemed so badly to want to be with them (I figure, if he's not going to make it, he should be content with his buds at least). I put out the main light and just have on the black heating light. That's everyone in the last two pics, seems to be relaxing. Hoping, hoping, hoping. I'm too soft-hearted for this.

I hope he pulls through for you. My little duckling I helped out wasn't looking good for awhile. She couldn't walk and her bill was squished to the side. She ended up making it, though. My daughter named her Lucky. She's now perfectly healthy, although her bill is still a bit deformed looking. I wouldn't breed her, but she is a sweet pet. So you never know; your little duckling might make it, too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks Coyote & Utah. Well, first I put him in a tupperware container on his own under a separate lamp (first two pics), but he started cheeping up a storm and seemed to try to climb out (actually, first I put him in the container in the brooder, but all the other ducklings seemed to be getting him riled up), so I finally put him in a smaller bowl and back into the brooder with the others, he seemed so badly to want to be with them (I figure, if he's not going to make it, he should be content with his buds at least). I put out the main light and just have on the black heating light. That's everyone in the last two pics, seems to be relaxing. Hoping, hoping, hoping. I'm too soft-hearted for this.

How precious, hoping to hear good news when you update...

 

[bhhastin]

Thank you, Christine! He's looking better (first pic). He's fluffed out, but while all the other ducklings are busy running around he just sits in one spot. When I put my hand down by him, he tries to stand up, but can't quite do it. Then, he lays his head down (second pic). I've noticed the other ducklings doing this too, when they are really tired. Maybe he just needs some more time and rest. I wonder if I should give him some sugar water or if he wouldn't even take it at this point, since he's only been out for about six or seven hours. People are coming by today to take a few of the other ducklings. I might have to hang onto this one, I don't think he's ready to go yet.