Two day old duckling barely opening mouth

[Lalacheepcheep]

Hi, I'm new and would be really grateful for support. I'm a teacher whose school have ducklings and I am caring for them this weekend.

We had a duckling hatch yesterday and he was lively and cheeky and pooed on us etc... Towards the end of the day I noticed that he kept turning onto his back when he jumped up, and not being able to get up. I brought him home overnight to keep an eye on him and woke to turn him a couple of times when he cheeped loudly because he hah turned over. He cheeped if left alone.

This morning I noticed that one leg was sliding outwards, so after searching on here we made a hobble from a band aid and he is able to move about on it and I hope it will help. I've also added niacin to the feed and a bit to water.

But he is very subdued this afternoon and very very sleepy. He is uninterested in food or drink and has stopped opening his mouth at all. Earlier this afternoon he was shaking his head violently as if trying to dislodge something, and now he barely opens his beak even when we gently lower his head towards water, or raise water-soaked pellets to his beak. He pecks at it and seems to get some down but his beak is barely open. His eyes are often half closed and he isn't cheeping as he was. When he does eat or drink, he squeaks a little.

I'm so worried about him! Any thoughts or similar experiences?

 

[Lalacheepcheep]

Anyone? I've been hand feeding him mashed egg yolk and soaked crumbs, with sugar water, and last night he perked up after a little of this and pooed and jumped about... He opened his mouth wide enough to peck my skin and lunch it but no more than a 1/4 of an inch, and has had bursts of energy during the day but has declined... He jumped out of the run this morning, his leg is better and he walks fine, but he's lost all energy and barely eats.

He makes a strange squeaky, crackly peeping noise when awake and wants to be held constantly. He's drowsy and lethargic and barely eating or drinking.

If he's not long for this world, we will care for him until it's his time. But if he has a chance, I want him to have it.

 

[Lalacheepcheep]

The beak seems to have brownish lumps at the edges where it joins his head.