baby ducking not moving much and liquid is coming out of nose, and is trying to peep but

[orangebirdd]

I just baby chicks and ducklings a couple days ago. I have been keeping their bedding very clean, they are under heat lamp, and have starter feed, and water.
Today I went to check on them and noticed that the baby duckling we call blondie is not doing so well. I had them out it the yard yesterday for about 15 minutes in the sun.

Today blondie who usually runs from us is hardly moving when we go to pick her up. She is being really calm, and seems sleepy. She is trying to make peep sounds but all that happens is a puff of air and liquid comes out of her nostrils, eventually after trying ling enough the faintest peep cracks through.

I don't know what could be wrong with her, any ideas?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

She is trying to make peep sounds but all that happens is a puff of air and liquid comes out of her nostrils, eventually after trying ling enough the faintest peep cracks through.

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

It sounds very much like your duckling inhaled water and is essentially drowning right now. Prognosis is poor if crackling sounds are heard, in my experience.

What starter are you using? Does it have enough niacin to prevent leg issues if you have more ducklings? Some brands do, most don't. How old are your babies now? How many have ya got?

Sorry.

 

[orangebirdd]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

It sounds very much like your duckling inhaled water and is essentially drowning right now. Prognosis is poor if crackling sounds are heard, in my experience.

What starter are you using? Does it have enough niacin to prevent leg issues if you have more ducklings? Some brands do, most don't. How old are your babies now? How many have ya got?

Sorry.

Im using a starter by natures best, it doesn't say that it contains niacin but its a special starter just for ducks. checking on her again now about an hour later she is still struggling to make sound but when sound does come out its not crackling anymore and there id no more liquid coming from her nostrils.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Is this the product?
https://organicfeeds.com/products/duck-crumbles/

If so, it's to low in protein IMO. But that is not your current problem!

@WVduckchick have you any experience in this water coming from nostril issue before?

 

[danceswithronin]

Sounds kind of like aspiration pneumonia. What are you watering them out of?

 

[WVduckchick]

Ducklings need water deep enough to run it through their mouth and slosh it out the nostrils. They really only swallow about half of what goes into their mouth. Never allow a duckling to have feed without water.
Also what kind of bedding are you using? They sometimes will noodle and chew on things like pine chips, etc. They don’t usually eat it, but will wallow it in their mouth, so it’s possible the little one couldn’t rinse it well enough.

Hopefully she is doing better now?

Maybe post a picture of your setup, sometimes that gives us a clue about possible issues.