3 out of 4 baby ducklings died

[humblehillsfarm]

This is the one I bought, and this is one specifically for ducklings. Both work good.

She had her son send a pic of the feed to her. It was Natures Best organic duck crumbles. Her son said the remaining duck is still doing well.

I’m thinking it was temperature that did them in

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Okay, so if anyone sees this thread: she said she doesn’t want anymore ducks but her husband does.

I have chickens. I really feel for this duck and would probably try to take it off her hand and either dispatch it with our Cornish X if it’s a male, and keep it around if it’s a female. Do you all think a solo duck would be not lonely if it had chickens to hang out with? Or should I try to find another home for this duck entirely? Personally I know how messy ducks are and had already done my research, but I think one duck would be totally doable.

 

[Sheepheart]

Okay, so if anyone sees this thread: she said she doesn’t want anymore ducks but her husband does.

I have chickens. I really feel for this duck and would probably try to take it off her hand and either dispatch it with our Cornish X if it’s a male, and keep it around if it’s a female. Do you all think a solo duck would be not lonely if it had chickens to hang out with? Or should I try to find another home for this duck entirely? Personally I know how messy ducks are and had already done my research, but I think one duck would be totally doable.

It is suggested that a duck be raised with another duck for imprinting reasons, but I’ve heard of many stories where a duck was raised with chickens and was just fine. I think the only concern would be how the chickens will take to the duck, as some breeds and flocks don’t like when one of these things are not like the other.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

It is suggested that a duck be raised with another duck for imprinting reasons, but I’ve heard of many stories where a duck was raised with chickens and was just fine. I think the only concern would be how the chickens will take to the duck, as some breeds and flocks don’t like when one of these things are not like the other.

I'll play it by ear then. One thing I feel confident about is one lonely duck is certainly worse than one duck with a flock of chickens. Aside from that I spend more time than average on my three day weekends with my flock. Worst comes to worse, and I hate to put in the extra work, I have a chicken coop that is no longer in use. I could make a duck pen for them. I'm still considering that option anyways.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

The truth has been revealed, and it was not pleasant. The toddler pulled on the duckling's heads when they stuck them out through the dog crate; he broke their necks. Totally devastating.

I'll be taking the other duck, and have found two 3-day old mix breeds to add.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Well before I could pick up the forth duck, it was found dead with no water and the heat on in a 100+* shed. So. Yeah.

This is what happens when people buy livestock without actually preparing.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I don't have ducks, nor do I know much about them. My coworker recently got ducklings and I thought I would post her case here for some insight:

She bought four-day old Peking ducklings on April 2nd from TSC. She kept them inside for about a week before moving them outside. She said she put them in a wire cage dog kennel during the day on Monday (April 5th), and put them in a garage with a heat lamp at night. She was reportedly feeding them feed specifically formulated for ducklings. She says while they were still staying in the house, the first enclosure she put them in, they escaped. When she was picking them up and putting them in a new enclosure, one of the ducklings regurgitated a lot of water. She noticed a few days later one of them kept losing its balance, but by that night it must have been acting normal, because they were all walking around peeping and behaving what she thought was normally. She states last night she went home, and their water was almost out. Remember, they were outside on the ground at this point during the day. She is using one of those mason jar waterers. She took the mason jar and filled it with bottled water. She said roughly 30-60 minutes later her grandchild who is 18 months was shouting "duckies" standing next to their (fully enclosed dog kennel cage) and one of the ducklings heads was sticking through one of the holes, clearly dead. She states she thought maybe the grandbaby strangled it or something, but then she noticed in the center of the cage, the other two was dead. The holes aren't big enough for the baby's hand to fit. She said she didn't notice anything unusual in their behavior, just one minute they were fine and the next three of them were dead. She says this morning the remaining duckling is still fine.

My concerns were temperature. At what point can ducklings go without heat? On Monday, the highs were around 72, and yesterday (Tuesday) 80*. I suggested to check the mill-by date on the feed and check for mold. Perhaps there was something poisonous on the grass?

Why would a duckling regurgitate water or have balance issues?

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Ducklings that young have to be kept with heat on them until they get their feathers. Mine stayed inside for almost 6 weeks until they were fully feathered with a light on them. It was not a heat lamp as it was close to them first in an aquarium and then in a big rubber maid tub. I only had two at a time. I did not put them outside until they were 6 weeks old and it was very warm out. I think they got chilled and probably got sick from that. Ducklings with their Mom can withstand the cold. I live in Ohio and just had some hatch out when there was still snow and they all made it. Nights got below freezing and I didn't loose none out of the 11 this 8 month old Mallard hatched out. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Luv Ducks]

The truth has been revealed, and it was not pleasant. The toddler pulled on the duckling's heads when they stuck them out through the dog crate; he broke their necks. Totally devastating.

I'll be taking the other duck, and have found two 3-day old mix breeds to add.

Little ones and live animals can be a bad mix. They don't understand and treat them like a toy. Sorry for your loss and glad you figured it out.

 

[CDitzel]

Poisoning can cause that, but to much variables to know for sure. But chicks and ducklings need there ambient air to be 90 degrees till most of there feathers come in, part of the concern for fluctuations in temp can cause there inability to function internally also. It's safer for them to be outside when there feathered.

I bought a thermometer that had the correct temperature for each week until ambient temperature is reached. I got my ducklings at TSC and no problems yet. They are 6 weeks old now. I still have them inside but take them out for a while each day and for a swim.

 

[SailorV]

Well before I could pick up the forth duck, it was found dead with no water and the heat on in a 100+* shed. So. Yeah.

This is what happens when people buy livestock without actually preparing.

Your coworker sounds like she shouldn't be caring for living things. It'd be nice for someone to enlighten her to how terrible that level of negligence is.

Good luck to her toddler.