A weak duckling

[Petia]

One of my two ducklings is very weak and lethargic.

I just noticed it sitting in a corner, so I went to pick it up and it just let me. I put it in a quarantine cage and it leaned forward to the ground and fell asleep. I am worried it will not last the night. I sent my husband Aaron for antibiotics, but... not sure it will help and now I am worried about the rest of the flock and about us. Like aviary flu and salmonella and such...

 

[Petia]

**** it! It's already dead! I saw both ducklings threw up couple days ago, so I quarantined the other one... I am worried even more now

 

[Petia]

Can't say D@mn here? ok. Poor Piggie... Rest in peace boy. I hope Nibbler will have more luck and will grow up

 

[dotporter]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Sometimes a baby dies FTT. Failure to Thrive. usually it's an egg that got cold at some time during incubation causing a heart defect. It doesn't necessarily mean that they were or are sick. Honestly if you had botulism or salmonella you'd see stumbling, limp necks, and the birds wouldn't survive long (24 hours).

Make sure they aren't on chicken feed. Chicken feed has antibiotics in it that aren't good for ducks and it can make them sick.

I looked up a post about duck vomiting so that I could link it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/744823/duckling-vomiting/20

Seems to be pretty normal in some ducks, so that alone shouldn't cause too much worry.

Best of luck with the rest of your babies.

 

[Petia]

Luckilly the other one, the girl, survived without any symptoms, so maybe Piggie was just weak. Here is a picture of Nibbie. She is almost grown up now.