Solemn Opossum
In the Brooder
- Aug 6, 2020
- 7
- 4
- 39
(First paragraph is about hatching process of all the eggs, second paragraph talks about the duckling in need) So, I ordered my duck eggs from Metzer farms (First time hatching or owning ducks) on July 1st and received them late on July 6th or 7th. On Monday, August 3rd (about 28 days), most of them that were to hatch started to pip. Out of the twenty I had originally, fourteen survived and hatched. Eleven of them hatched that day, two others with my help hatched early the next morning (One was backwards and one was in a weird position. I waited until I felt I needed to help).
But now this last one, on day 32 (I think) was making no progress the entire time. I thought he died a few times and I stayed up all night last night and all day today basically slowly doing the whole hatching process for him. when I finally got him out, I left him slightly in the shell to scoot out himself, but he couldn’t (I assumed he was too exhausted). Like twenty minutes later, I finally pulled him out of the shell to see his crumpled foot and, upon setting him down, to see his neck start writhing and contorting until it almost looks like his head is on backwards. For a minute or so he adjusted it and it was normal and he scooted around the incubator, but just as quickly as it vanished, it just came right back and didn’t go back away. I thought it was siezures at first, but he’s conscious and coherent and it’s perpetually like that. He kind of has to roll and toss himself around and he doesn’t really open his eyes and he shivers, but he clearly has a strong will to live. He was just sitting in that egg for so long and he’s trying to recover and get around. I know the feet can usually be treated with special shoes, but does anyone know if this looks like wry neck, or something worse? And I don’t know where I can put her. I’m guessing I’ll have to make an entirely separate little brooder with its own light? I know the other ducklings (who are in a big husky tote) will bite and pick at her if I leave her with them, but I don’t want to leave her In the incubator while I treat her (assuming she makes It. I don’t know if it’s because her runner neck is so long or what, but her neck twists way more than any pictures I can find of other wry necked ducklings). I read what I could on what to do but had a really hard time finding any specific instructions with any measurements and I’m terrified of accidentally killing this duck. I sent someone to the store for me and they got Nature Made vitamin e 267mg gel/oil capsules, Selenium 200mcg, and nature made super b-complex. I’m going to order brewers yeast and quik chik (unless someone knows a better combination of things?), and they should be here in 2-3 days. Could somebody please help me with the best way I could treat this duckling with said items and the most that I can do for her now? it’s heartbreaking to see her try and move and her trembling in her sleep, and it would mean so much if someone could help.
Also sorry if the picture are bad. I’m trying not to open the incubator and upset her too much, and the lighting, bad angles, plus her being black makes taking pictures difficult.
But now this last one, on day 32 (I think) was making no progress the entire time. I thought he died a few times and I stayed up all night last night and all day today basically slowly doing the whole hatching process for him. when I finally got him out, I left him slightly in the shell to scoot out himself, but he couldn’t (I assumed he was too exhausted). Like twenty minutes later, I finally pulled him out of the shell to see his crumpled foot and, upon setting him down, to see his neck start writhing and contorting until it almost looks like his head is on backwards. For a minute or so he adjusted it and it was normal and he scooted around the incubator, but just as quickly as it vanished, it just came right back and didn’t go back away. I thought it was siezures at first, but he’s conscious and coherent and it’s perpetually like that. He kind of has to roll and toss himself around and he doesn’t really open his eyes and he shivers, but he clearly has a strong will to live. He was just sitting in that egg for so long and he’s trying to recover and get around. I know the feet can usually be treated with special shoes, but does anyone know if this looks like wry neck, or something worse? And I don’t know where I can put her. I’m guessing I’ll have to make an entirely separate little brooder with its own light? I know the other ducklings (who are in a big husky tote) will bite and pick at her if I leave her with them, but I don’t want to leave her In the incubator while I treat her (assuming she makes It. I don’t know if it’s because her runner neck is so long or what, but her neck twists way more than any pictures I can find of other wry necked ducklings). I read what I could on what to do but had a really hard time finding any specific instructions with any measurements and I’m terrified of accidentally killing this duck. I sent someone to the store for me and they got Nature Made vitamin e 267mg gel/oil capsules, Selenium 200mcg, and nature made super b-complex. I’m going to order brewers yeast and quik chik (unless someone knows a better combination of things?), and they should be here in 2-3 days. Could somebody please help me with the best way I could treat this duckling with said items and the most that I can do for her now? it’s heartbreaking to see her try and move and her trembling in her sleep, and it would mean so much if someone could help.
Also sorry if the picture are bad. I’m trying not to open the incubator and upset her too much, and the lighting, bad angles, plus her being black makes taking pictures difficult.