12 day old Pekin Duckling Panting?

[Lute]

I'm home and the ducklings are doing great! They're a little cranky that I woke them, but they're breathing is steady and their little peeps are loud.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm home and the ducklings are doing great! They're a little cranky that I woke them, but they're breathing is steady and their little peeps are loud.

 

[Lute]

Not great. Another duckling has died. The brooder box is the right temperature (it's 85) and I'm really starting to think it's not me anymore.

3 ducklings in one week, I know they aren't resilient little suckers but this is ridiculous!

The last one is cheeping loudly. I think she's crying. She was not happy when we removed the body of the last one. Xander is afraid she'll also die, but of a broken little heart instead.

I'm a terrible ducky mommy!

 

[Mike Winters]

are they getting enough food and water. are they pooping allot like good little messy ducklings should?
how did it die a duckling about to starve will not stand or eat and with start flipping and acting drunk, then get lame. one freezing to death will cry allot try to get in a corner to stay warm and get lame. poisoned just get lame and die

 

[mandelyn]

Oh that sucks! It will be difficult to pin point what caused it. The heat was resolved before the last one died.

That leaves food, water, bedding type, and air quality. If you were cleaning regularly and not letting it stay damp long enough to mold, then it likely isn't air.

Was the feed 100% crumbled or did some of the crumbles bunch together in larger balls? Weird question but I had to return a fresh bag because it had gotten wet before it came to me. Caused a white mold inside the bag that I saw before it went into the feeder.

 

[Lute]

They were fairly active at least up until they died. The ducklings are eating the same feed (chick starter by Onate) that the Pullets and 7 Month old Pekins are eating and they're fine.

They seemed to be eating and drinking just fine. I gave them fresh food and water twice a day (around 7:30am after I got off work and again about the same time in the evenings).

Their bedding is a towel (I double rinse all my towels) with some pine shavings for comfort. This is changed every other day in the afternoon.

Air quality, could it possibly be that? I heat my house with Natural Gas, the furnace is in the living room where I've been keeping the ducklings because it's the warmest room in the house. They aren't next to the furnace but they were within 10 feet of it.

 

[Mike Winters]

hmm if it was gas it would have killed both, maybe one didn't drink its water and played with it instead it screwing its self into dieing of thirst

 

[jdywntr]

So sorry you lost another. You are not a terrible duck mom just having a very difficult first time.

I think everyone has given good advice but something else may be going on.

Try putting a small, similar sized stuffed animal in with the last one that it can cuddle with.

Are they literally eating the same food as your others, like from the same bag, not just the same brand? There could be something wrong with the feed if they have their own seperate bag.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They were fairly active at least up until they died. The ducklings are eating the same feed (chick starter by Onate) that the Pullets and 7 Month old Pekins are eating and they're fine.

They seemed to be eating and drinking just fine. I gave them fresh food and water twice a day (around 7:30am after I got off work and again about the same time in the evenings).

Their bedding is a towel (I double rinse all my towels) with some pine shavings for comfort. This is changed every other day in the afternoon.

Air quality, could it possibly be that? I heat my house with Natural Gas, the furnace is in the living room where I've been keeping the ducklings because it's the warmest room in the house. They aren't next to the furnace but they were within 10 feet of it.

I am so sorry you lost another one, but you may be able to go to a TSC close by and get your lil one a buddy. I hope you can figure out whats going on.

 

[Lute]

So sorry you lost another. You are not a terrible duck mom just having a very difficult first time.

I think everyone has given good advice but something else may be going on.

Try putting a small, similar sized stuffed animal in with the last one that it can cuddle with.

Are they literally eating the same food as your others, like from the same bag, not just the same brand? There could be something wrong with the feed if they have their own seperate bag.

I have a little tiny stuff cow that is about the same size as the duckling. I'll add Moo to the brooder. I already put a small mirror in and she seems pleased with that. Buttercup (I'm assuming it's a girl, I'm afraid to pick her up) is doing fine so far. I'm going to keep an eye on her until I have to go to work tonight, then my boyfriend will be checking on her while I'm gone.

Yes, they're all eating the same feed out of the same bag. I keep checking the feed but have found no signs of mold or bugs.