3 out of 5 ducks died suddenly aged 7 weeks old

[Ducks52020]

three of my five aulsbury female ducks died this afternoon - I bought them three weeks ago as 4 week old ducks . They were in great former until this afternoon all five of them were not acting themselves. One was already dead when I arrived and two others died after about a half an hour . So I would presume the three of them died within an hour . The remaining two that are still alive were very poorly ( balance off no interest in the food / drink - and lying down very stiff) but have now improved drastically and are back to their usual selves . they are homes in a spacious environment with the correct temperature. Has anyone any suggestions as to what this may have been ?

 

[Isaac 0]

First off, very sorry for your losses, that must have been terrible to come home to that.

Do you have any pictures of what you were keeping them in? Have you recently changed anything in their environment (?) heat bulbs, vitamins, feed, bedding, etc.? Have you had any problems in the past with your ducks, if so what?

Do you still happen to have one of their bodies?

 

[Ducks52020]

First off, very sorry for your losses, that must have been terrible to come home to that.

Do you have any pictures of what you were keeping them in? Have you recently changed anything in their environment (?) heat bulbs, vitamins, feed, bedding, etc.? Have you had any problems in the past with your ducks, if so what?

Do you still happen to have one of their bodies?

Thanks so much for your rapid response- I don’t actually have a photo but I will try to get one in the morning . Recently we changed their food from a largely frozen / canned diet ( peas sweet corn ) to chick crum we did wean them onto it but perhaps to quick . The reason we hadn’t started them on it earlier was because the food had to be ordered In . The heat and bedding has remained the same . No problems before with them bar one of the ducks getting what seemed to be an infected eye that cleared itself a week or two ago .
We do have one of the bodies left

 

[Isaac 0]

Thanks so much for your rapid response- I don’t actually have a photo but I will try to get one in the morning . Recently we changed their food from a largely frozen / canned diet ( peas sweet corn ) to chick crum we did wean them onto it but perhaps to quick . The reason we hadn’t started them on it earlier was because the food had to be ordered In . The heat and bedding has remained the same . No problems before with them bar one of the ducks getting what seemed to be an infected eye that cleared itself a week or two ago .
We do have one of the bodies left

Could you take one of the bodies, try to wrap it up, and fit it in your fridge? Your best bet figuring out the cause of death would be to send the body to your state veterinary necropsy lab. They should be able to give you a reliable diagnosis on what might have been the cause, and luckily, most states only charge a minimal fee. The reason of putting it the fridge is to preserve the body until it can be shipped (put in the fridge not freezer).

If you tell me your state, I can give pricing, and contact info.

 

[333113]

Is there a possibility that a predator scared them and ran them around their cage? Hawks, raccoons and foxes can chase a duck to death without even touching them. Ducks need a safe place in their pen to hide from predators.