Help! New with wood ducks and had one die. I do not know why.

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waterfowl rocks

waterfowl rocks

Chirping
5 Years
Apr 26, 2014
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I just got wood ducks and my little female died. I wasn't able to feed or water them that morning but I did the night before and the male was not hungry or thirsty when I fed him that day and was 18 degrees too but I had 150 watt bulb on them but they did have a door to go out side. She never ate anything and her craw was always empty. I would love any help on the matter so I do not make the same mistake twice.
 
I don't have experience with wood ducks specifically, but if she wasn't eating or drinking it could be reasons below.
1. She was too weak. If this is the case then make sure they come from a reputable breeder, you can also feed them electrolyte supplement to give them extra strength and energy.
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2. She didn't know where food and water was. If this is the case next time you should dip her beak in water before leaving her alone, so she knows where water is. For food offer some to the duck then show them where its kept.
3. She was just sick. Again, make sure they're from reputable breeders.
I hope I was able to help!
Bye!
P.S. Sorry about the huge pic
 
She new where the feed was and she bathed often. And was not quite as wild as the male but still had a lot of energy.
 
How long did you have the wood ducks after receiving them? Sometimes they won't eat right away when after being moved or stressed, but if you had food for them she would get hungry and eat hopefully. I'm assuming the drake ate? The other thing is she may have had something wrong already. When you grabbed her was she plump or did you feel right down to her chestbone?
 
I agree with basil. The wild ducks or fowl in general get stressed very easy. I would look at how long did it take for shipping if that's how you got them or transport in general. What did they look like health wise when you first set eyes on them and watched them for the first couple hours. My guess was she probly got just to stressed and the slightest thing could of took her down or she may had a problem b4 she even was yours and stressed put her over the edge. I've had all sorts of ducks and geese shipped and usually do fine but every once in a while somthing like this happens. It could be anything and gentics Heath and stress are huge factors on how this happens. Best of luck keep trying it happens but if your drake survived and is doing great it probably wasn't somthing you did wrong.
 
I have had them 2 months so I do not think it was the shipping. But I did pick them up every day too tame them down, they were pretty scared then. I kept them in a 4'x4' pen and only let them out on the nice days. I hope that's not what killed her. P.S. The drake ate often but she was skinny and her craw was always empty. I am getting a spray to clean the pen so the drake does not get sick too.
 
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Yes clean keep the mudd and standing water away. With these exotic birds I never ever had one that wanted me to hold them or really pet them. The were comfterable eating from my hand or at my feet but they would come to me I would never go to them and there stress level would always be good. These wild duck will have a heart attack in a blink of an eye of you catching them or chasing them they can't handle it. It would be like caging you up and putting a grizzle bear in with you and the grizzle bear wants to snuggle you would die to lol let them come to you or else you will stress them out every time.
 
Yeh I didn't know that it would stress them so much. Should I just let them get used to me on there own then?
 
Yes that's def the best way to go. If you had them from ducklings and imprinted on them u may be able to have a more tamed wood duck but from my experience there wild blood always runs deep in them and it's really hard to tame them down to a pet. I've heard people do but they always say that they only had one and raised it from a hatchling but I've never had that situation personally.
 
I just switched the male to a 8'x15' pen bigger water bowl and two big houses. And it's right next to the buff geese and white pekins pen so he won't get lonely. He won't really come out of the houses though. I got him as an adult and I didn't know you could buy baby wood ducks.
 
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