Baby ducklings

[Savannah8]

I had 2 baby ducklings that are 2 weeks old, I keep them in a container with wood shavings and a warmer. They always have access to clean water and feed. I occasionally gave them a little bit of mashed avocado, banana, and tomato (not at the same time). While I clean their container I let them swim around in a little bit of water. I always keep the water warm and my son watches them. Last night I put the 2 ducks in the tub and cleaned everything. I dried them and put them back. I noticed that one of my ducks was acting very lethargic and the other one would not stop squeaking and trying to get it to move. This morning I woke up and it was dead. I think I may have done something wrong and I don’t know what else to do other than ask you all. So if anyone has any suggestions please let me know

 

[Tre3hugger]

Do you provide them with a resting area while swimming? Sorry for your loss.

 

[Savannah8]

No I did not

 

[Isaac 0]

Maybe it got chilled? Whats the temp in your brooder, did you use warm water or cold for bathing?

 

[Savannah8]

The water was warm, I’m not sure what the temperature In the brooder is

 

[Buckeye Amy]

I had to Google if avocado is toxic to ducks, because it is toxic to chickens. It turns out it IS toxic to ducks. I've had ducks in the past, but don't have any now. I would just feed duckling food the first few weeks before introducing fruit/veggies. Sorry for your loss!

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Found this online: "Avocado trees (Persea americana) and their fruit contain the chemical persin, a type of fatty acid derivative. When birds eat persin, it can cause them to become unable to perch or lead to trouble breathing, warns the Pet Poison Helpline. It also can cause fluid to accumulate around the heart and lungs, liver or kidney failure or death in some cases. The most toxic varieties of avocado are the Guatemalan and Nabal varieties, which may contain more persin than others, according to "Avian Medicine: Principles and Applications." For safety's sake, it's best to keep your feathered friend away from all varieties of avocado. "