All of My Ducklings Died in 5 Minutes, No Clue Why

[Zennn]

I bought 35 ducklings at the beginning of the year because, well, I love ducks and miss my flock. A mix of breeds: khaki, Swedish blue, Rouen, etc. I had them for 4 weeks, lost three of the littlest, the rest of them growing really well. Fed a mixture of chick starter, seeds, ground up green vegetables and some fruits.

Today my wife went and gave them water and five minutes later when I went to check on them they were all wobbling, vomiting and dying suddenly. They were all dead within an hour and I have no idea what happened. I'm very upset by this but I don't know what to do differently next time.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Contact your state lab, arrange for a necropsy. Take a sample of the water, take a sample of the feed (ziploc sandwich bag sized of both).

 

[nuthatched]

I'm sorry for your loss.
At 4 weeks, they should have exclusively formulated feed but I'm not sure if that the issue. Did they have access to grit?
What is their brooder like? Any chance they could have gotten into any toxic?

 

[Zennn]

I'm sorry for your loss.
At 4 weeks, they should have exclusively formulated feed but I'm not sure if that the issue. Did they have access to grit?
What is their brooder like? Any chance they could have gotten into any toxic?

They were split between two brooders with the larger birds being separated to keep them from trampling the little ones. Two heat lamps, had plenty of grit in the form of granite and limestone sand. I've never had a problem giving my ducks greens like spinach, peas and lettuce as a big part of their diet. I just don't understand what happened.

 

[nuthatched]

They were split between two brooders with the larger birds being separated to keep them from trampling the little ones. Two heat lamps, had plenty of grit in the form of granite and limestone sand. I've never had a problem giving my ducks greens like spinach, peas and lettuce as a big part of their diet. I just don't understand what happened.

It's honestly hard to say unless you send one in for necropsy.
It could have been a nutrition deficiency, or something was up the the seeds or extras.

 

[Maddcatter]

I bought 35 ducklings at the beginning of the year because, well, I love ducks and miss my flock. A mix of breeds: khaki, Swedish blue, Rouen, etc. I had them for 4 weeks, lost three of the littlest, the rest of them growing really well. Fed a mixture of chick starter, seeds, ground up green vegetables and some fruits.

Today my wife went and gave them water and five minutes later when I went to check on them they were all wobbling, vomiting and dying suddenly. They were all dead within an hour and I have no idea what happened. I'm very upset by this but I don't know what to do differently next time.

I second the necropsy. And getting your water and food tested... Like now. If there's something *that* toxic in your water, you probably shouldn't be drinking it.

 

[bhaugh]

What was the water source? Botulism is real and cause what you had happen

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you changed anything with your waterline, checked for mold in feed, and could your heat lamp have a Teflon coating? Are your heat lamps especially for Poultry? So sorry for your loss.

 

[Zennn]

Have you changed anything with your waterline, checked for mold in feed, and could your heat lamp have a Teflon coating? Are your heat lamps especially for Poultry? So sorry for your loss.

Food is sealed in a bin, nothing seems wrong. Not damp or anything. Waterlines were replaced recently. Dedicated poultry lamps and bulbs.

 

[Zennn]

What was the water source? Botulism is real and cause what you had happen

It's sourced directly from my ponds. Comes in through a couple filter systems.