- May 8, 2011
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2 of my ducks had nests together and the ducklings began hatching 3 days ago. Yesterday morning they were ready to leave the nest with mom, but one had flipped over and couldn't get up. I flipped it but it just sat there and was obviously weak.
It didn't want to open its eyes much (mainly its left eye) and they didn't look big and bright like its siblings. I was hoping it was just weak and I've raised plenty of ducklings before so I set up my brooder with another duckling who was somewhat weak (but seems fine now).
It was doing pretty well but I wasn't sure it would be ok. Now this morning, about 22 hours after I got it, I found it almost dying. I was able to perk it up and when I held it in front of water it drank well.
I discovered it smelled really bad all the sudden. I found that its vent had a black spot that smelled bad, like old dried egg yolk possibly. I thought it was just a bit dried there because it didn't protrude at all. It looked normal down there other than that small spot. But a little later it started leaking what looks just like bright yellow/orange egg yolk. And it doesn't look normal at the vent area anymore, but I didn't want to mess with it too much because I found it stuck to paper towels (due to dried yolk) and I had to dampen it to get it unstuck.
Is this unabsorbed egg yolk? Why would this be coming from where it poops?
It didn't want to open its eyes much (mainly its left eye) and they didn't look big and bright like its siblings. I was hoping it was just weak and I've raised plenty of ducklings before so I set up my brooder with another duckling who was somewhat weak (but seems fine now).
It was doing pretty well but I wasn't sure it would be ok. Now this morning, about 22 hours after I got it, I found it almost dying. I was able to perk it up and when I held it in front of water it drank well.
I discovered it smelled really bad all the sudden. I found that its vent had a black spot that smelled bad, like old dried egg yolk possibly. I thought it was just a bit dried there because it didn't protrude at all. It looked normal down there other than that small spot. But a little later it started leaking what looks just like bright yellow/orange egg yolk. And it doesn't look normal at the vent area anymore, but I didn't want to mess with it too much because I found it stuck to paper towels (due to dried yolk) and I had to dampen it to get it unstuck.
Is this unabsorbed egg yolk? Why would this be coming from where it poops?
Still would like to know what was wrong with him though, if anyone has any guesses. I've never experienced anything like that in all the ducklings I've raised.
