12 day old Pekin Duckling Panting?

[Oregon Blues]

You aren't using any of those Teflon coated light bulbs?

 

[Lute]

Nope, no teflon coating.

I'm really starting to think the ducklings that died were sick from the hatchery, so far the last (lonely) duckling is fine. She peeps nice and loudly and moves around more than the others did. She's even starting to get noticable feathers (noticed this evening before I left for work). I've been checking on her hourly.

 

[Lute]

Well, she lived 5 more days and passed away this afternoon.

I'm starting to think they had breathing problems. But her little nosey seemed clear.

I shouldn't ever try having ducklings.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, she lived 5 more days and passed away this afternoon.

I'm starting to think they had breathing problems. But her little nosey seemed clear.

I shouldn't ever try having ducklings.

I am so sorry to hear about your ducklings... please don't give up though.. there are lil ducklings being hatched daily that need someone to love them...

What kind of bedding did you use? cedar is a no no.

 

[Lute]

I had put a towel down with shredded pine on top. She seemed to be getting better these last couple days. Today we put her in a plate with a little bit of water so she can play in it, get her feet wet, and she just seemed to give up.

This is my 4th and last duckling to die like this!! I'm so frustrated and sad, I want to cry.

At least my week old RIRs I picked up Sunday are doing great. I seem to be a whiz with chickens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I had put a towel down with shredded pine on top. She seemed to be getting better these last couple days. Today we put her in a plate with a little bit of water so she can play in it, get her feet wet, and she just seemed to give up.

This is my 4th and last duckling to die like this!! I'm so frustrated and sad, I want to cry.

At least my week old RIRs I picked up Sunday are doing great. I seem to be a whiz with chickens.

I am happy to hear your chicks are doing great. I can imagine how you must feel, you put your heart and soul into them and then they die. and now you don't know exactly why except for the breathing problem. What else can you think of, did they eat good? was the bedding real dusty? how about the feed what kind did you use? and have you checked for mold? I'm sure you kept the brooder clean but did you notice any odd smells from the bedding? did you change the towel when it got wet.?
Did they interact with each other,? or from the day you got them did they seem off? Just trying to help you sort it out.
Ducks are so hardy it had to be something they came with or something maybe in the inviroment? feed?

 

[Lute]

They ate very well up until a day or two before they died. This last one hadn't eaten much in the last few days period. I managed to get her to eat earlier today though, and drink some water (we thought the whole thing was a niacin deficency so we picked some up and have been mixing it in their water, the chicks love it).

The feed is Onate brand, chick starter. The pullets, the chicks, and the ducklings were on it. The chickens are still fine and even playful. Rosie likes to be petted between her wings.
Feed seemed to be fine, I checked both bags today (we picked up a second because we have older ducks that are eating it as well and they're just fine too). It looked normal, smelled normal too.

No odd smells and I changed out the towel often. I cleaned the brooder box (which is a clear tote box with a hinged lid) every day with palmolive soap and water.

The ducklings, all, were originally in a tote together when the first one and then the second one died. I know they died from being too hot. I swapped out the bulb with a lower one and their temperatures got normal then. A few days later a 3rd died (no idea why) and today the last died. Up until they were 8 days old (when the first two died) they acted normal, were playful and cheeping away. They ate and drank like children coming in from the playground.

I just have no idea what's up anymore. I guess the Pekin Ducklings from this particular store just aren't strong enough? I bought them from a small feed store in Albuquerque.

The first set of pullets (6 weeks old now) I got at a poultry swap in Edgewood, NM. They're doing great. The second set of pullets I got (the week olds) are from TSC. When these guys are old enough, I'll be picking up Layena with Omega 3.

I am happy to hear your chicks are doing great. I can imagine how you must feel, you put your heart and soul into them and then they die. and now you don't know exactly why except for the breathing problem. What else can you think of, did they eat good? was the bedding real dusty? how about the feed what kind did you use? and have you checked for mold? I'm sure you kept the brooder clean but did you notice any odd smells from the bedding? did you change the towel when it got wet.?
Did they interact with each other,? or from the day you got them did they seem off? Just trying to help you sort it out.
Ducks are so hardy it had to be something they came with or something maybe in the inviroment? feed?

 

[desertdarlene]

Sorry a out your ducklings. What kind of medication was in the feed? Some medicines aren't good for ducklings and some ducklings are sensitive to certain medicines while others are not.

 

[Lute]

I just added half a vitamin of Niacin, mixed into a gallon of water. The Onate Feed is medicated (I've not found unmedicated feed yet). It's medicated with Amprolium.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just added half a vitamin of Niacin, mixed into a gallon of water. The Onate Feed is medicated (I've not found unmedicated feed yet). It's medicated with Amprolium.

Well you have gone over every possible reason and maybe the one you stated about could have been they just weren't that healthy when you got them, or over heated? But you have learned valuable lesson here and I hope you don't give up on ducks, they bring so much joy and laughter with their antics, so please consider getting more maybe just not from the same place. My chicks are going on 3 weeks and even with the heat lamp they have only been under 80* and a little under they are feathering fast and running around playing so I think less is better when it comes to heat. Not once have they been bunched up on top of each other.