3 week old muscovy ducklings dying one by one

[just duckee]

I had 30 ducklings brooding with 2 mammas.
Out door run and covered shelter.
A couple days ago I found a died duckling, then the next day 2 died, then another
One slow. I decided to move them to my brooders. I broke them up into two 12 in one 13 in the other.
2 died in the 13 I have 2 in question
I'm down to 9 in the other pen
Cleaning daily, feeding grower.
I also have 8 I hatched and brooded from the same adults, same age.
As well 17 I hatched and am brooding 1 week old. All the ones I hatched and brooding are healthy.
Symptoms seem to be.
They look generally slow, sit or crouch, fill skinny. Although there is food and water always available.
I'm afraid from reading it's Coccidiosis, and everyone will get it. I'm worried about kids catching it or my 6-8 week olds that are out side there area and have some exposure to the ducklings.
I do not have a avian vet near us.
Any suggestions or thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Ratchnick]

Send one off for necropsy. Ask your state vet, usually reasonably priced. I think DVH also kills young birds.

 

[just duckee]

Im in Canada.

 

[Trisseh]

Coccidia is species specific, so no concern for transmission to people for that - just follow normal hand washing etc procedures as with any time you handle the birds.
At the very least, a fecal float performed by a veterinarian can help you rule it in or out. Are they actually eating and drinking or are they just sitting doing nothing? Having it available doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily consuming it. Do they have any respiratory signs, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge, that kind of thing? What does their feces look like?
There are a number of things that could affect and kill young ducklings, some things you can fix and others you can’t. If it’s viral it has to run its course and all you can do is supportive care and hope they make it through ok. Giving electrolytes/vitamin supplement in water can often help support them through.

what actual feed are you giving them? You mentioned it’s a grower; is it a chicken grower or did you manage to find a duck or waterfowl specific feed? If they have an issue with say, niacin deficiency, it can make them lame and slow and reluctant to move, which can exacerbate the problem. You also mentioned they are thin so I would be concerned they’re not eating as they should.
necropsy on dead birds is a really good way to get a handle on what’s going on, but can often be costly. It depends on what the balance is - if you lose all the birds, would it be worth the cost of necropsy to find a way to try to save some? Depending on what province you’re in, some labs will take specimens from owners, some will not.

to get them eating, most seem to enjoy hard boiled eggs, chopped up small. It might be enough to start them up again. Some birds also like a wet mash made with their regular food. Try to entice them with treats you know they like.

 

[just duckee]

Chicken grower, brewers yeast, grass run for feed.
Over $100 here to get necropsy.
Eyes look doppy or angry instead of wide eyed.
No discharge
Food and water are being emptied, so somebody's eating.
watching one flop and now die as we speak, lying on side.
never ever had duck issuers before, so frustrating.
Left message with a vet.
Hopefully get some phone advice

 

[Trisseh]

I guess what I was trying to get at with cost of necropsy is, is the cost of losing most or all of them, higher than the cost of a necropsy? Not sure about labs near you, but the U of Guelph will accept up to 10 birds for the same price for necropsy, which is helpful for diagnosis. I know it’s a lot up front but it’s the best way to get a true diagnosis and come up with an appropriate treatment plan.

if that’s not an option, then you’ve already done the next best thing by calling a vet. Even if they handle poultry normally many will be willing to try to help, with the caveat that they’re by no means poultry experts!

I would be concerned with dehydration if they’re “sunken“ looking, supportive care in the meantime and I would spend a bit of time observing to see if they’re truly eating and drinking or if they’re just tossing it around. Unless you see it, it didn’t happen. Haha!

also monitor fecal output - poop can tell you a lot. If there’s blood in the feces, coccidia or enteritis may be the culprit; and so on.

I work at a large animal clinic and I totally understand the “sticker shock” for testing - I feel the same way and wish that costs were not so prohibitive. But we have to work within what’s available to us and find the best option within what a client is willing and able to do.

 

[Daisy Minotaur]

I know it’s a basic duck thing but...
Are you sure the chicken grower is non medicated?

I know medicated feed can make non chickens sick