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Post by Duck Diva on Nov 28, 2008 10:17:06 GMT 8
Sorry Steph, I meant to say thanks for your advice too I think Im going to have to have a nap shortly!! Im so tired.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 28, 2008 10:23:13 GMT 8
How long ago was he "born"?. The shell will probably fall off in its own time once he starts moving about. If you pull it off before it should come off you will risk making it bleed which isnt a good thing. Dont worry about trying to feed or water him, freshly hatched chicks/ducklings etc get enough nourishment from the yolk sac to see them through the first 24hrs. Once he's dried out and fluffed up nicely you can move him to the brooder, where you can have some food and water sitting in there ready.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 28, 2008 10:24:07 GMT 8
Your welcome wendy Yes, I think a nap is a very good idea, it sounds like you had a long night.
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Post by Duck Diva on Nov 28, 2008 13:16:23 GMT 8
Hey Steph, well, hes been trying to get it off all day and it was causing him some distress. I have now twisted the cord (it didnt have fresh blood in it) and after a while I cut it off from the membrane. He seems fine with that and is resting alot easier. I put some betadine over the yolk sac and umbilical cord, just in case. The yolk sac is drying a bit now. I just popped out to the vets and got some electrolyte powder as a precaution,. I will put in water if he's sickly after I put him in the brooder and he decides not to eat or drink. Oh, yeah, never got that nap, thanks to my darling Skye who came in asking for something just as I had dozed off!! I said, go and get dad, but he was outside in the shed so I just got up! Im going braindead! Plus with my poor little ducky, I wont want to sleep tonight either!! It reminds me of when the kids were babies and I was feeding in the night and creeping up to the cot to check if they were still breathing!! lol Well, ducky is looking very peaceful and at ease, sleeping at the moment. he is starting to dry out. Man is this duck a cutie Hope he makes it.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 28, 2008 15:29:04 GMT 8
lol wendy I can certainly understand the feeling. Im going through the night feeding/checking if the bubs still breathing stage at the mome It sounds like you did the right thing by removing the shell for him. How are the other eggs? Im guessing that coz you havent said anything about them, that nothing has happened? Oh, and we want piccies of the lil ducky please!
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Post by Duck Diva on Nov 28, 2008 15:39:47 GMT 8
Hi Steph, theyre only little for such a short time arent they? I cant believe my little boy Ryan's in Preschool 5 day a week next year!! And my baby, Skye will be 3 in February. We have to enjoy every moment with them. As for "ducky" he is still much the same, he isnt on his feet yet, but I did read somewhere that they take a bit longer than chicks. Is that your experience? I will get a photo of him when hes out of the incubator. I tried to get a decent photo while he was in it, but it doesnt look like much, my cameras not the best. Im thinking about putting him in the brooder because hes not drying out. The humidity is up because of the other eggs. Should I wait till hes standing up to put him in the brooder or would it be alright to put him in as is? SO many questions!! But it is my first time I suppose. The other eggs have been making peeping noises still and moving a bit. Not all of them but at least 2 others. I am going to turn the chicken eggs shortly so I will have a listen while Im at it. Let you know what I hear back later with pics and updates!
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Post by Duck Diva on Nov 28, 2008 16:14:22 GMT 8
Hes in the brooder now. I just thought Id better tell you that hes laying on his side and kicks his legs around alot but doesnt actually get up at all. I have no idea when they start to walk around. I would like to give him a drink though, any suggestions?
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Post by Duck Diva on Nov 28, 2008 17:17:34 GMT 8
well we just got him to have a little sip of water :)he stands on his legs only for a short while and he cant keep his head up for long. he just wants to sleep. Dont blame him really! i wouldnt mind a nap myself. Anyway is this normal or does he have problems?
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Post by Duck Diva on Nov 28, 2008 17:38:00 GMT 8
Well, here he is! I forgot to say that one of the other eggs has started to pip!! A little hole and some peeping too. Yay, if this little fella survives he may have a friend!!
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 28, 2008 18:18:06 GMT 8
Very cute wendy He may just be really tired after his loonnnggg hatch. Its good that he's had a drink though. Fluffychook will probably have some good advice, hopefully she's on soon
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Post by Duck Diva on Nov 28, 2008 18:39:12 GMT 8
Hi Steph, he is very cute. Hopefully he is just exhausted. Hes definately starting to look fluffier. We have had him sitting up and he is gettting a bit stronger. He is sleeping ow. We have named him/her "sunny" Yes, cant wait to see what fluffychook's advice is for him.
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Post by fluffychook on Nov 28, 2008 18:52:22 GMT 8
I did put a message on earlier, for some reason it is not here. Anyway I suggested you offer him a drink and see if he wanted it. He sounds like he is definately on the way to recovering from the hatch, still very tired though. I would put food and water in the brooder. From my daughter the ICU expert...lol. You need to let them rest but every hour or two you need to pick him up supporting his body but not his head to encourage him to strengthen his neck. I had a little duck with the same sort of problems not too long ago and found if I just left him alone he never moved and probably would have died. I put sugar in his water (only a tiny amount) which I dribbled into his bill. If you have electrolytes I would use them instead. I found that he wasnt interested in any food until I added water to it making a duck crumble mash. He mainly just drunk the liquid around the food but at least he still got some of the nutrients from the crumbles. After a day of this my little fella recovered enough to start drinking and eating himself. I also found that supervised visits with any other ducklings from the same hatch was a really good way of encouraging him to exercise. I wouldnt put him in before he can move around though because ducklings have a tendency to sit on each other and might suffocate the weak one. Apart from this just lots of love, time and sacrificed sleep lol and Im sure your little guy will make it. The fact he has the weight bearing reflex and is holding his head already is great news he just might need a bit of TLC. Good Luck! Shelle Ok back to Fluffy...... Well I think you just got some very sound advice which worked a miracle on our duckling. We had taken it out of the bator and kept it warm and comfortable expecting any moment to be its last. It is now one very big, loud and healthy 4 week old duckling
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Post by fluffychook on Nov 28, 2008 18:54:25 GMT 8
We named our little guy sun bear
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 28, 2008 19:24:28 GMT 8
Told ya fluffy (and Shelle) would have some great advice
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Post by Duck Diva on Nov 28, 2008 20:03:54 GMT 8
Thanks guys for all your advice, I posted a message too but it didnt come through. Anyway, Sunny has had another drink with the watery mash. I just used the electrolyte mix to moisten the crumbles. He had a bit. We "played" with him for a while so he used his neck a bit and now hes -yep, you guessed it-asleep!! He is seeming alot stronger and Im hoping hes even better tomorrow. I will try to do this routine through the night. Fluffy and shelle, I love the name sun bear by the way. I love sun bears and ducks, awesome Bye till next time xxx
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