6 out of 35 of our new baby ducks have died and we don't understand what is happening

[RosieCopland03]

Our ducklings are now 3 weeks old there we a few in the beginning about 3 that died and we thought that was normal because some of the small won't survive, but now some of the smaller ones aren't surviving. Do you know anything that could be the problem? Please help we are getting very worried that we are doing something wrong and are going to kill all our duck.

 

[Gerty0630]

Our ducklings are now 3 weeks old there we a few in the beginning about 3 that died and we thought that was normal because some of the small won't survive, but now some of the smaller ones aren't surviving. Do you know anything that could be the problem? Please help we are getting very worried that we are doing something wrong and are going to kill all our duck.

What are they eating? What bedding have you used? Where did you get them from?

 

[RosieCopland03]

We are feeding them Hard red wheat, peas, starwberry and corn. We had rocks as bedding, but we are going to get normal bedding today. We got them from Tractor Supply 2 weeks ago.

 

[Gerty0630]

We are feeding them Hard red wheat, peas, starwberry and corn. We had rocks as bedding, but we are going to get normal bedding today. We got them from Tractor Supply 2 weeks ago.

They need an unmedicated starter feed. Fresh water. And poultry grit. Pine shavings as bedding. With that info it could be a variety of reasons. In my experience TSC birds are not the healthiest to begin with. Put an electrolyte in their water that may help and definitely wont hurt. A heat lamp closer to one side of the brooder so if they get too warm they can go to the other side to cool down. Are they pooping normally? Foamy mouths?

 

[aart]

We are feeding them Hard red wheat, peas, starwberry and corn. We had rocks as bedding, but we are going to get normal bedding today. We got them from Tractor Supply 2 weeks ago.

Why not feeding a poultry starter feed?

 

[Isaac 0]

Our ducklings are now 3 weeks old there we a few in the beginning about 3 that died and we thought that was normal because some of the small won't survive, but now some of the smaller ones aren't surviving. Do you know anything that could be the problem? Please help we are getting very worried that we are doing something wrong and are going to kill all our duck.

We are feeding them Hard red wheat, peas, starwberry and corn. We had rocks as bedding, but we are going to get normal bedding today. We got them from Tractor Supply 2 weeks ago.

What were their symptoms before they passed? What's the temp in the brooder? Could you post a picture of them and your setup?

What your feeding them is not nutritious at all, I suggest you start them on either Duck feed or a All flock/Raiser Feed , you can also use plain chick feed, but you will have to add a supplemental source of niacin to help prevent leg problems from occurring. Rocks are not a suitable bedding for ducklings, I suggest you use Straw, Shavings, a Towel or Horse Pellets.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Also do they have a heat source and are you keeping them inside or out?

 

[Ratchnick]

Its not good to feed large quantities of fresh peas to ducks.

 

[Isaac 0]

It's not good to feed ducklings anything in large amounts besides Feed/Water.

 

[Ratchnick]

It's not good to feed ducklings anything in large amounts besides Feed/Water.

Your not wrong!