ARE MY DUCK EGGS DEAD OR ALIVE?

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The weirdest thing just happened, I picked up the other egg, and it burst. I think the duckling is dead. But the egg burst in my hand. It was a bloody mess. GAHH, this is terrible.

Yikes, bad eggs are like stink grenades. Bacteria gets in them and they are prone to exploding. I handle all unhatched eggs carefully.

 

[strawberricatt]

OK egg one's duckie is still alive. The other eggs duckling is dead, strangely no smell. I have no incubator, so there's no way to keep the yolk sac sterile, I'll go get the duckling now to take some pics.

 

[ronott1]

OK egg one's duckie is still alive. The other eggs duckling is dead, strangely no smell. I have no incubator, so there's no way to keep the yolk sac sterile, I'll go get the duckling now to take some pics.

Do you have a brooder or are you using the broody hen for the duckling?

 

[strawberricatt]

Do you have a brooder or are you using the broody hen for the duckling?

It's currently 30 degrees celsius at room temp, I've got the duckling with me on a hot water bottle.

 

[strawberricatt]

*UPDATE* He's still alive, not sitting up but breathing well now. He started squeaking, and i squeaked back to him, he then flapped his wings. My main concern is that the yolk sac is still attached to the bottom half of the egg. He's been absorbing it, there's a little bulge in his belly now. Unsure of what to do next.
EDIT: he's wiggling alot now, he yawned and opened his eyes, the cutest little thing

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Leave him be. After he's done absorbing the yolk everything should dry up and he should kick out. If you remove it too soon it will die.

 

[strawberricatt]

Leave him be. After he's done absorbing the yolk everything should dry up and he should kick out. If you remove it too soon it will die.

Thank you It's almost night here in new zealand. I'm hoping his yolk is absorbed by the morning. Unsure of what to do about night. It's pretty warm, but I doubt a hot water bottle will keep him through the night. Don't really want to put him under the hens, in fear of the yolk sac being punctured by them...

 

[Arielle2]

How is duckling today? Duckling is getting food from yolk right now. The belly will start to seal over so monitor the belly/yolk. Keep the belly moist. Perhaps coconut oil. CO is a bactericide and will keep tissue from drying and allow it to heal over.

Heating pads are useful. I have found keeping an incubator like an Little Giant is helpful when the unexpected happens.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hopefully he's hanging in there.

 

[strawberricatt]

He made it through the night, but sadly died yesterday. RIP lil guy...
I took some pics, but can't find them on my laptop poor duckie.