Update!! need advice on helping duckling hatch and what to do next please

[Roan]

That's awesome news! So has the weaker one absorbed the yolk yet? If not, I'd probably section off part of the brooder for it and keep the heat as close to incubator temp as possible. But I'd say it just needs a little more time to rest and get its strength up. Baby chicks of all types are very resilient!

Since they're both out of the incubator now, the third one should be joining them in the brooder soon.

Btw, he looks like a nice young healthy little one! Gongrats!!!

 

[sarahmichelle86]

Yes he's absorbed all the yolk now he's peeping every now and then but is just laying there I'm leaving them to warm and rest hopefully tomorrow they will be up on there feet.

 

[Roan]

Yes, I'm sure he'll be fine! He just needs some rest. Let me know when the third one zips, please!

 

[sarahmichelle86]

Weak one past away last night :'( I think he was just too weak the other is doing well has serious speed and noise to him hasn't started eating really, and the final egg is on its way out I would say hatched by the end of today if not sooner hoping for this one to survive for company for this little guy :/

 

[sarahmichelle86]

 

[Roan]

I'm so sorry about the weak one.

I hope things work out with the third one.

Do you handle the other one at all? Baby chickens can do well with just a heat lamp for heat because they're naturally curious. They'll pick at everything until they find what's edible and drinkable but baby ducks depend on mommy to lead them everywhere and show them everything. Not to mention the psychological bond they will develop with their mommy and their daddy.

Also, I don't know how much experience you have with baby ducklings but something I recently found out is that they can not be placed in a swimming area for quite sometime because they don't make the oils for their feathers until their older. In the wild, they would get these essential oils that keep them afloat while sleeping under mommy. So drowning or freezing, even in room temperature water is very possible until they start producing their own oil.

 

[sarahmichelle86]

Yes I've been handling the strong one he loves cuddles and will follow my hand anywhere he's eaten a bit and drank some water, he has a very shallow water feeder with marbles in it to prevent drowning and a heater plus now a cuddly teddy the one in the incubator is resting a lot he's free from the egg and managed to absorb most the blood in the membrane, has a little yolk to absorb on his tummy he's been peeping but is very lethargic.

 

[Roan]

So he's acting a lot like the weak one then. Well, of course we will hope for the best but also prepare for the worst.

Hatches always come with challenges. It's a learning process and we can read everything there is to read on it but there will almost always be problems along the way.

I found an article in the Learning Center here on BYC called Assisted Hatch. It may help you with the next clutch.

Of course, I'm still rooting for the these two!

 

[sarahmichelle86]

Yes very much acting like the other just laying in the incubator very limidited moving tried nutri drench perked up for a min then strait back to laying there I'm miserable for little Ringo we've named the fluffy male he's all on his own.

 

[sarahmichelle86]

Little one has perked up not holding out too much hope but he's definitely a lot brighter than the other guy was he's actually walking and cleaning himself now.