Duckling questions

Hello I recently rescued 3 baby ducklings in my pool after the mother abandoned them... I rescued them on Sunday and they seemed perfectly fine. I was feeding them lettecue apples and other treats daily until I hit them starter food... When I woke up this morning I noticed two ducks were wobbly and weren't able to stand up or walk because they kept flipping over on to their backs(last night they could walk perfectly fine and were acting normal). Sadly when I returned home from school today the two ducks passed away ;( ;( I was deeply saddened but was glad that one pulled through and that it is still alive and looking healthy( please don't jinx it lol). I was just wondering if any one on here will be able to tell me what was wrong with the two poor ducklings that passed away ;( I ran out to the store today and bought niacin and Brewers yeast just in case things go south with the last duckling that I named lucky thank you all!!

Also I gave the one duckling some niacin in his water today but he seems to be ok so should I still give him niacin and Brewers yeast in her small doses or just hold off on it ??

Nickbova said:

Also I gave the one duckling some niacin in his water today but he seems to be ok so should I still give him niacin and Brewers yeast in her small doses or just hold off on it ??

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So sorry about the 2 ducklings. they may have been too far gone to begin with how long were they in the pool before you rescued them? also not having suffcient nutrients could have played into it also not your fault most of us don't have chick feed sitting around in case we have duckling abandoned in our pool. But just very hard to say what it could have been,Thankfully you have one survivor what are your plans for the lil one? it won't be able to just go back into the wild after being cared for by you, it might be berst to get in touch with a wild bird rehabber and let them take over care of the lil duckling they will know how to release it back into the wild if that is possible. It is going to be extremely lonely with out another duckling so if you have a stuffed animal for it to cuddle with and a mirror that doesn't have sharp edges that will help it too it will see it self and be able to relate to other ducks when time comes. It needs the Brewers yeast or Niacin if it's drinking real well then you can use the niacin or you can sprinkle the Brewers yeast over top of it's feed. But it needs one or the other for strong legs and brain development. Is Lucky a Mallard? How are you keeping Lucky do you have him under a heat lamp? I'll get you the great info we have here on BYC for caring for ducklings.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

Welcome to BYC

Hello miss Lydia
When I rescued them they could have be in the pool for maybe an hour or so maybe a little more. After rescuing them I placed them in a big rubber maid bin and places a towel at the bottom at first I had paper bedding but it seemed like the ducklings were eating it so I replaced it with a towel. Also I put them back in he pool during the day because they seemed to enjoy swimming around and it seemed like they were eating the little bugs on the top of the water. My plans were to raise it to a full grown adult but at the same time I really don't want it to die so now that you said handing it over to a wild life rehabbed that's what I might do. Yes lucky is a mallard and a pretty cute one too lol. Lucky is being kept inside of a big rubber maid container with a heat lamp a water and food bowl. The heat lamp is around 86-90 degrees Fahrenheit too btw thank you again for all of your help. What else should I do with lucky picture ?

There is the whole setup of the box that lucky is in

Here is lucky

@Miss Lydia

Nickbova said:

Hello miss Lydia
When I rescued them they could have be in the pool for maybe an hour or so maybe a little more. After rescuing them I placed them in a big rubber maid bin and places a towel at the bottom at first I had paper bedding but it seemed like the ducklings were eating it so I replaced it with a towel. Also I put them back in he pool during the day because they seemed to enjoy swimming around and it seemed like they were eating the little bugs on the top of the water. My plans were to raise it to a full grown adult but at the same time I really don't want it to die so now that you said handing it over to a wild life rehabbed that's what I might do. Yes lucky is a mallard and a pretty cute one too lol. Lucky is being kept inside of a big rubber maid container with a heat lamp a water and food bowl. The heat lamp is around 86-90 degrees Fahrenheit too btw thank you again for all of your help. What else should I do with lucky picture ?

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I hope your not putting Lucky in the pool for the day he can get water logged and chill if he hasn't a way out. he needs to be kept warm and have plenty to eat and drink. He is adorable I hope you can find a rehabber in your area who will take him and raise him up to be able to go back to the wild but if not he can live in a sanctuary . Keep us updated please, and bless you for taking Lucky in and saving him he is one Lucky duck.

Thank you miss Lydia
God bless for people like you I'm calling a wildlife rehab today who will hopefully drive down and take him if not me and lucky are going in a road trip for a little while lol. I haven't put lucky in the pool since the other two dyed thinking maybe it was pneumonia or the chlorine in my pool so now instead of the pool she or he get 10 minute sessions in the bath tub and is happy. Sadly she is still afraid of my giant hands so it is a hassle to get her into and out of but I will hopefully be turning her over today so she can be guaranteed a happy and healthy life thank you again for all of your help and I will be gladly keeping you updated @Miss Lydia

Nickbova said:

Thank you miss Lydia
God bless for people like you

I'm calling a wildlife rehab today who will hopefully drive down and take him if not me and lucky are going in a road trip for a little while lol. I haven't put lucky in the pool since the other two dyed thinking maybe it was pneumonia or the chlorine in my pool so now instead of the pool she or he get 10 minute sessions in the bath tub and is happy. Sadly she is still afraid of my giant hands so it is a hassle to get her into and out of but I will hopefully be turning her over today so she can be guaranteed a happy and healthy life

thank you again for all of your help and I will be gladly keeping you updated @Miss Lydia

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I think you have made a wise decision. Hopefully Lucky will be with other ducklings who have been abandoned for one reason or another and live a very happy life and all because of you rescuing him. Appreciate the updates too.