Weak duckling

[Bri009]

I have a very weak duckling it’s hatched yesterday it’s eyes are closed but it’s still alive I don’t know what to do.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I'm so sorry. Did this little one hatch on it's own without any intervention? Is that blood around its unabsorbed naval? If it lost a lot of blood, it may be extremely weak. Do you have any nutridrench on hand?

 

[Bri009]

I'm so sorry. Did this little one hatch on it's own without any intervention? Is that blood around its unabsorbed naval? If it lost a lot of blood, it may be extremely weak. Do you have any nutridrench on hand?

I had to help it out of the egg and it didn’t lost a lot of blood and no I have to get some do you know what nutridrench it needs

 

[EverythingDucks]

Hello and welcome to Backyard Chickens!
So sorry about this.
Can you dissolve a bit of sugar in some water for him? Be sure the water is room temperature, not cold.
Then cook up an egg, scrambles or fried works fine, and dice it up into small pieces. See if you can get him to eat some of that.

 

[Bri009]

I’m try the eggs I did the sugar water

 

[Bri009]

I try to feed it the eggs it don’t want to eat but it drinks the sugar water any other ideas on what I can do

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe not ready to eat yet since it's just hatched yesterday don't force, and be very careful not to for water down its throat either. It needs to be in a more upright position when drinking liquids. Nutri drench is best now because sugar was can cause low blood sugar if given too long, Poultry Nutri drench tiny drops along the bill straight from the bottle. And once it's drinking on it's own put it in the water. There will be directions on the bottle. Sure hoping the little one makes it.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

It needs to be kept either in the incubator or somewhere that is the same temperature as the incubator until the yolk sac absorbs. Until it does absorb the duckling will not be mobile and it is actually better if it stays in place. I usually separate in a small clear plastic container so they can still see the other ducklings, but it keeps the other ducklings from trampling or picking at the sac. It also will not eat at all and most likely will drink minimal amounts because it is still living off of the yolk sac. Don't try to force feed it at this point you will do more harm than good because it's stomach is technically full because of the yolk sac. As others have said nutridrench or I like poultry cell (for poultry cell I give .25cc a day for hatchlings). Diluting it in water doesn't normally due much at this point because the duckling won't drink enough. I recommend getting a 1cc syringe and putting a drop or two at a time in it's mouth to not aspirate it. Or if you have a lot of experience with giving oral medication you can just give them full amount like you normally would. Once they yolk sac absorbs it will take typically 2-3 days before it really starts to perk up. Things like wobbly legs, tripping and not eating much in that period are fairly normal. Another thing to know is that assisted hatches often grow at a slower rate than it's hatch mates.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Along with keeping the duckling warm is maybe putting it in a small bowl or cup on a nice soft cloth or paper towels until belly has completely closed up.