Black specs in duckling water and in plumage

[MarFarm]

I have three 4-week old ducklings. Blue Runners. They are in a 4'x2' brooder (out-growing it!) with pine shavings. The entire setup gets changed twice a day, and sanitized weekly.

Yesterday morning I noticed tiny black specks in their water, and in their plumage. They even had little bits of it in their mouth. They arent opeining their mouths often, i only noticed after watching them for quite a while. It looks like bits of finely ground black pepper in their water. We change the water twice a day, and I bleach the water feeder every few days (afterwards i rinse very very thoroughly). The specks are not very noticeable in their feathers, mainly you can see them floating in the water, and in the catch pan under the watering device.

No other symptoms but a single sneeze that stopped after a warm bath.

Has anyone seen this before? Ive heard that duck dander should be white. They do preen themselves quite often, as new feathers are coming in.

Thank you so much for your reply. Worried.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Don't think they are mites they are very hard to see they are so tiny. And they crawl. I got them on me once when my chickens got infested with them But my water fowl did not because they bathe a lot I am guessing.

Can you get a pic and post it? maybe we can help. I have a blue Runner other colors and don't remember seeing anything like your describing but they will be 2 end of this month.

 

[MarFarm]

Will post pictures. Thank you for the reply. We only give them baths about once a week. Is that a mistake?

When I get home tonight, the water will have 'black pepper' floating on top of it, and the drip tray will too!

 

[Miss Lydia]

You can let them bathe daily as long as you have the time and warm water . Your avatar is adorable love my Runner ducks.

Since they are feathering in it may just be dander. Since my ducklings were with a mama duck and not brooded I didn't have them inside.

 

[MarFarm]

Pictures of the black flecks I am seeing in their water. They are acting normal, just seems odd.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't think it's mites. too big. Try letting them have more swim time in nice warm water they will do a lot of preening see if that takes care of it or makes more I am thinking it's dander. Especially at their age they are losing down and getting in their feathers right?

 

[iluvsedward]

Maybe its something in the food, sometimes when I clean out my ducklings water after they mix it with the food there's a tiny bit of black in the silt at the bottom, remnants of whatever milled grains are in there.