HELP!!! autopsied a presumed dead duck embryo on day 31 and he is alive!!

[noreen_justus]

I need help with a duckling. I have incubated six eggs, they all hatched on the night of the 28th day, except for one. When candling this egg a week ago I supposed it was dead, because it had a tiny air cell, the duckling didn't fill out the egg like the others and the saw little to no movement. I kept it in the incubator though and left it in there two days after the others had hatched. then I opened it. THE DUCKLING IS FULLY FORMED AND ALIVE!!! it was supposed to be an autopsy not a prison break. He is completely sticky and dried. his yolk is small but not fully absorbed. I put him in a cup in his half shell and in the incubator like I read on here. he's breathing and lightly moving. he has made no progress in the 24 since I opened the shell but he also looks no worse.
can I do something? should I put him out of his misery?
I'd appreciate any advice.

 

[pvchicken1]

That doesn't sound good. Most likely not going to survive but I would still give him a chance. There is really nothing that you can do now, but hope for the best.

 

[noreen_justus]

That doesn't sound good. Most likely not going to survive but I would still give him a chance. There is really nothing that you can do now, but hope for the best.

thanks, it's what I thought...

 

[DucksAreBest]

@MGG @JaeG @WVduckchick @RosemaryDuck

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I'd give him a chance - and offer a supplement like Nutri-Drench if possible. Best of luck!!

 

[noreen_justus]

I'd give him a chance - and offer a supplement like Nutri-Drench if possible. Best of luck!!

thank you. while he's still in his shell and cup? I'm not sure he's up for eating.

 

[noreen_justus]

thank you. while he's still in his shell and cup? I'm not sure he's up for eating.

I asked my boyfriend for some sugar water and he brought it with a yolk in it I ended up not feeding the duck anything for fear of introducing bacteria

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I asked my boyfriend for some sugar water and he brought it with a yolk in it I ended up not feeding the duck anything for fear of introducing bacteria

Yes, if you offer the supplement carefully so he doesn't aspirate it. The vitamins can help perk struggling hatchlings up.

 

[BGcoop]

You said he is sticky. I would give him some time to finish absorbing the yolk, if he survives that then in a day or two I would then try to wash the sticky off him- I have had a couple sticky weak chicks that really perked up after a bath got the sticky off them so they could move better.

 

[noreen_justus]

he won't eat. there is almost no yolk left, but his navel is really large.

it has already been so long (the others hatched on Wednesday and Thursday) and he hasn't gotten worse... I think he can make it.