DUCKLING PROBLEMS ):

[Alicia0795]

So my female mallard just hatched 7 baby ducklings. One of my male blue swedish picked up one of the babies and shook it around and i ran outside to stop it. I picked up the baby and he looked like he was dying. Breathing very hard and falling asleep. I really thought he was dead. I brought the baby inside and he is still breathing but sleeping. There is no visable signs of bleeding and he can still lift his head up so i don't think his neck is broken. Is he just scared and dazed or what do you think is going on?

 

[Poultry parent]

i think he was traumatized!
take the other ducklings out of there in case it happens again.
make sure he is eating and drinking!
and when he is awake see if he can walk

 

[Alicia0795]

We have chicken fencing so it has small holes in it and it think the baby went through it and then thats when it happened. The mother couldn't protect it since it was on the other side of the fence. He is awake now and peeping but still tired looking. I'm giving him little sips of water as well. Why do you think the male duck did that??!! How mean ):

 

[Poultry parent]

he could have thought he was a rodent, i've found mice in my duck inclosure that are crushed and bloody. you might consider putting some hardware cloth or 1/2'' chicken wire around the inclosure so the ducklings can't get through

 

[Amiga]

Hormones. There's just something in some ducks that makes them attack ducklings. And we never know which duck will be like that. Time to upgrade security for the ducklings.

 

[Alicia0795]

He was doing better but he is throwing up now ):

 

[gal5150]

Drowsiness and throwing up can indicate head trauma....which can or cannot be fatal. If the little bugger concussed, the symptoms your seeing make sense. Feed regularly but in small quantities to reduce risk of aspiration/choking on vomit.

 

[Amiga]

@gal5150 - do you think electrolytes in the water would help any?

 

[Alicia0795]

I don't know what happened. He was doing better, peeping and walking and then he started throwing up. Seems like he was doing better but then that happened. ): I hope he will be ok ):

 

[gal5150]

Absolutely, electrolytes and vitamins will never hurt...in correct dosage

If anything, they will help give an extra boost while the little guy is recovering. If none on hand or able to get today, sugar water will help keep metabolism up which is always a good thing after a trauma.