URGENT help needed - 5 day old baby duckling sick?

[chickens really]

Is your heat source a lamp? Meaning light at all times? Sometimes they get scared when the lights go out. Definitely should be okay ..

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Dees ducks how is the little one doing now?

 

[MaransMarion]

Dee's Duck...
Re your current situation...

I have just Incubated my first Duck Eggs, and found that, after hatching :
Ducklings need warmth, more so than what a heat lamp or brooder can give.
Especially when you have a little one, or one that is not as strong. So apart from just putting them back in the incubator, brooder, or under a wayward Mum, (Mom) warmth and safety are the best medicine.

Any mammal, and birds here, need primarily warmth, then fluids and latterly food, to turn the corner. And back to thriving again.
Remember, when your are Sick, or Icky etc, you want a Duvet Day (warmth) a hot honey / lemon drink (fluids) and when you can rejoin the human race (unless it's manFlu ) some of your Grannies recipe of homemade chicken soup (food.)

With my weak and overdue Runner Duck Eggs and associated Ducklings, they were given a tiny "warm water" bottle to each side of them... I used those '100ml / 8oz' travel sized fluid / lotion bottles.
I tested them on my wrist, like what you do re baby formula bottles.
And gave them tiny drops of warm water with a dot of honey (or sugar) from dipping my finger in the fluid, and placing my finger tip on the side of the beak... And, back into the Incubator, or under that heat lamp, >> with a warm water bottle, & a soft fibre item. <<
This gives, 1st : warmth, 2nd : comfort.

If they need to be removed from siblings, or are solo Hatcher's, a fluffy fibre cloth, or soft toy, really helps.
You can prop up the patients head and chest, so they can still breathe, but not so that their head or body is not just flat on the floor. And being cuddled by a non shedding fabric 'nest' keeps them safe, even if they are flat out with exhaustion, and deep post hatching sleep. (Propping up improves their circulation and associated recovery.)

Done many a time with Marans Chicks, that struggled in their first few days.
: Giving fluids
Dropper or syringe feeding only gets aspirated, and results in snuffling, and or choking, and, I'm afraid respiratory demise. (I always use my finger tip.)

They just get a cold, don't keep their appetite, and associated temperature, and I'm afraid, fail fast.

: Helping your hatchlings.

Warmth, warmth,warmth, fluid, then food. Is the way to go.

Direct contact with a warm object [Body temperature : Only !]
.... Will do more good than, any hairdryers, near direct dry heat etc. And a fluid with added sugary elements, will improve the energy levels of said newbie chick or duckling.
And keeping the fluffy patient, moving, eg : gently stroke them, move the little thing, gently in your cupped hands, etc, will keep the circulation going.
Even at one time, I needed to blow my breathe over and above, the infant from a little distance, to keep it going.
ABC (Airways/Breathing/Circulation) applies to many living, but struggling things, over and above that of ill folk !

Hope this prescription helps *...

... QKR: MD Dr.Duckling

* Only my recommendation, I'm not a Vet, but looked after those like us.




I'm so new to ducks and ducklings, my Daisy is only two weeks old...*
* However, I learnt a lot, trying to keep her tiny tot sibling alive, with a serious non absorbed egg yolk issue, for five days, alas so tiny, she passed away after 5 days. But know what I did with Daisy Duckling worked...

 

[casportpony]

Especially this part:

warmth, warmth,warmth, fluid, then food. Is the way to go.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Great information @MaransMarion

 

[MaransMarion]

Your welcome...
New to duckling 'patients,' a case of if it might work, give it a go.
What applies first aid wise, and kinda, in medicine, transfers to one species to another.
Know the science, make it work in your favour.
Don't understand the science, don't do it, until someone here on BYC can assist to why you "DO" or "DON'T" it !

I have a Diploma, and Degree, (!)
and a PhD in learnt 'hindsight'...
When it comes to Chicks,
and, now with Ducklings.
"The more we ask (or question) the more we gain, and can learn.
So ask, learn, follow, and pass it on ! .... Busy on BYC, Asking, learning,
following, and passing it on...

 

[Lucyspals]

Is he still pooping maybee try a few drops mineral oil maybee got a little constipated.

 

[Dees ducks]

Morning all,
thank you so much for all your help and replies - what a wonderfull, kind, helpful bunch you all are.
This morning the little one is slightly (and only slightly) improved.
He's drinking fluids with sav-a-chick (which you can't get in the UK but I'd ordered it months ago to keep in the cupboard). There is also niacin in his water. There is both a heat lamp and heat pad in the brooder. He's drinking OK and I have seen him eat a little and he's pooping fine. In fact several times whilst I was snuggling and comforting him yesterday.
Thank you MarsMarion for your tips - I'll try the water with honey to get his energy levels back up - what a good idea.
He is considerably smaller than the others although this was not apparent in the first 3 days. It just seems as though the other two have thrived and he's going backward!
I've repositioned the heat lamp and am keeping a closer eye on the brooder temperature. I've had a good look at him all over and nothing seems broken, damaged or odd about his body.
He's still doing that distressed chirping (I can now instantly tell the difference in their chirping) but once again, when I pick him up and cuddle him, he settles down. He had a perfect hatch and was acting and growing perfectly normal for the first 4 days so I am still really baffled!
Fingers crossed, he will get better and stronger.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We’re all pulling for him!

 

[Dees ducks]

Hi all,
After a long day yesterday when I held the little baby most of the day and certainly all evening to keep him calm and comforted, I sadly woke early this morning to find he had died in the night.
I'm totally baffled as to what happened as the other two are doing great and he was also up until day 5.
So having cried most of the morning, said sorry to him repeatedly and vowed never to hatch again and go through this emotional turmoil, I am wondering what I could have done differently? My poor old heart can't take the loss so now I'm anxious and stressing over the other two
Thank you though to you all for all your help and advice and thoughts.