Both of my WH died!

[firsthouse_mp]

They died about 1 week apart. My sweet Harley died this afternoon. I am devastated.....I re-checked their feed making sure it was non-medicated, and I re-checked the vitamins, but I think it was just that the two were not strong enough. They walked funny from day one and I think it was "failure to thrive" from genetic problems. I have raised chicks into chickens and have experience with poultry but this is my first foray into ducks...I'm a bit spooked I have to admit. I only had two, but I might not even try ducks again because of this experience. Anyone ever had such a devastating experience? It's so so sad and my whole family is kinda scarred by the last few weeks.

 

[DuckLover179]

I'm so sorry for your loss!

I feel terrible that this has ruined your duck family, and devastated your human family!

Praying it gets better for you!

 

[easttxchick]

It could have been a Niacin deficiency. It's pretty common in ducks.
So sorry you lost your ducks.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Failure to thrive does cover a whole range of things that can go wrong. From memory...I was thinking yours were shipped ducklings??? Travel at such a young age really can take its toll on their little bodies. So sorry for your loss. Maybe you could try finding some day olds closer to home where you can pick them up rather than having them shipped - it may be a totally different and more possitive experience for you and your family.

 

[sheila3935]

Im so sorry about your babies. I give mine gamebird starter cause we dont carry duck feed around here. It has a higher amount of niacin in it. Dont let that discourage you from having ducks. They are wonderful crazy birds.

 

[MissusDee]

I lost two of the pekins I had shipped this winter 1 week apart. The first one never seemed to have any pep from the get go, and died two days after arriving, then the other at 1 week of age. They came with a bunch others though that had no problems. So so sorry for your loss, you seemed so excited about raising a couple of ducks and so many are available right now you may do better with two you got from your local feed store?

 

[firsthouse_mp]

Do you think if I went to my local feed store that ducklings a few days old might be healthier? The two were shipped by themselves with a heat pack and seemed to recover fine the first few days, but the first one died within the next day and I hand fed/watered her for hours through the night but she died in my hands. My husband was even really sad and he's not the sentimental type. I think it kinda rattled him because our chickens are really strong old ladies who have been laying for years. We figured we could totally do ducks and then......

I was really looking forward to my WHs too. The local feed store usually does Pekins and Mallards around Easter but I am also not sure I should buy into that marketing thing when I know that people abandon these exact same type of ducklings!

Thank you for all your condolences...coming from the Duck Family, it feels very comforting!

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
I would think the ones at the feed store would be several days older(at least the ones at mine were).
Give it another go-you won't be sorry. Ducks are messy, loud, mud hole drilling little monsters, but you'll absolutely be thrilled with them and be so glad you did.

 

[MissusDee]

It's just you can see them running around in the feed store too, pick out from a bunch of them etc. And like the previous person said, often they are beyond that stress from being mailed, if they were mailed at all (sometimes they get them locally). Mallards and Pekins make good pets, I find Mallards easier because they are smaller and eat less, and love the personality. I have some pekins too, and they are very calm, not as bossy and quite friendly. You may be surprised what else you might find too, one of the feed stores near me is getting in Cayugas soon.

 

[desertdarlene]

That is so sad! That's one reason why I'm considering buying local when I get my own ducks and not having them shipped. I don't think I could take the potential losses. Perhaps there's a breeder of WH within driving distance of your house.