Cayuga Duckling Dead on Arrival.. another three dead in the following 5 hours..

[Miss Lydia]

Living in central West Virginia we are a LONG way from resources. We have been looking for female ducks within the state that need rehoming.. rescue or not.. since we took on the seven rescue ducks on last August, with no joy. (From the friend-of-a-friend.. "my friend's American Pit Bulls are killing his ducks .. I figured you guys have a pond so I thought you might like them...") Well, they DID finally start using the pond after almost 8 months and now have a splendid 300 sq ft duck pen (heavy dog kennel quality) with a small drainable pond.. we call it "Le Chateau du Canard" I know Tractor Supply have ducks but they do not offer sexed ducks and we are already top heavy on males.

I know it's not always possible to get from a breeder close by,or rescues I have just read so many heart breaking stories about losing ducklings I just don't think I could order from a hatchery. You'll have to share pics of your set up, members come on here all the time looking for inspiration and of course keep us updated on the ducklings, how do they seem now? By the way thats wonderful you all took on these ducks that needed to be rescued.

 

[Shroppy]

Shortly after completing the ducks' pen. Since then we have fixed reinforced clear tarps to the outside.. this prevented the heavy snow from getting into the pen this winter. I used a floating pond heater and electrically heated bucket for water. We also have hay bales along the inner log wall where they both roost and also lay eggs. We have fenced off the most vulnerable areas of the property, and also gated our drive, preventing them wondering up to the road. During the worst of the winter we moved them into the greenhouse where they had a ball in the greenhouse beds

My rescue ducks enjoying their daily dog kibble treats. The front porch is now gated! No more poopy porch

 

[Miss Lydia]

Shortly after completing the ducks' pen. Since then we have fixed reinforced clear tarps to the outside.. this prevented the heavy snow from getting into the pen this winter. I used a floating pond heater and electrically heated bucket for water. We also have hay bales along the inner log wall where they both roost and also lay eggs. We have fenced off the most vulnerable areas of the property, and also gated our drive, preventing them wondering up to the road. During the worst of the winter we moved them into the greenhouse where they had a ball in the greenhouse beds

My rescue ducks enjoying their daily dog kibble treats. The front porch is now gated! No more poopy porch

That is one of the best setups I have ever seen for ducks. thank you for sharing. I tried Taste of the wild cat kibble with my ducks and they did not like it, So now I'll have to try the 4health what flavor? or does it only come in one? They look like very happy rescue ducks.

 

[Shroppy]

I get Tractor Supply's 4Health Small Bites Dog Food for the ducks. It is just the right size for these guys. For the 7 ducks I put down a cup of these. It has NO Byproducts, NO Animal Fat, NO Corn, NO Soy, NO Colourings, NO Animal Digest, and no BHT/BHA. NO Propylene Glycol (can be lethal!). It does have barley and millet as, I believe, the 6th or 7th ingredients. They go nuts for this stuff and an 18 lb bag costs $21.99 I recommend 4Health to folks looking for a reasonably-priced alternative to junk pet food such as Putrina, Ol' Roy, Kibbles n Bits, IAMS, Hills. Royal Canin etc. These babies are just so precious to us. You cannot look them and NOT smile! Oh, and the eggs are fab.. we get two white and two green eggs most days.. I have started adding in Diamond V organic dried yeast nutrient.. loaded with good stuff, and the 50 lb bag cost $60 and should last me a year or two.

 

[Shroppy]

Saturday morning.. both ducks are still with us

This morning they are now standing and walking without falling over. Drinking fine. Still concerned that they are hardly eating. They took a couple of moist crumbles off my finger when offered. Any help would be appreciated! Can someone confirm an optimal temperature for these babies? I am hearing different things.. some folks have said 94F.. and that mum's temp would be about 100F. On this forum I was told that 87F as too hot. I DO have a remote sensor in the brooder so can keep an eye on this as I don't want to stress these little ones.. one of the 10 chicks didn't survive the night but I guess 9 active, healthy-looking chicks out of 10 is reasonably good going. We had noticed that one was not looking good when we got the delivery yesterday.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Saturday morning.. both ducks are still with us

This morning they are now standing and walking without falling over. Drinking fine. Still concerned that they are hardly eating. They took a couple of moist crumbles off my finger when offered. Any help would be appreciated! Can someone confirm an optimal temperature for these babies? I am hearing different things.. some folks have said 94F.. and that mum's temp would be about 100F. On this forum I was told that 87F as too hot. I DO have a remote sensor in the brooder so can keep an eye on this as I don't want to stress these little ones.. one of the 10 chicks didn't survive the night but I guess 9 active, healthy-looking chicks out of 10 is reasonably good going. We had noticed that one was not looking good when we got the delivery yesterday.

That is great news about the ducklings, I'd just keep offering the moist feed to them eventually they will eat. I feed all my flock including my ducklings and chicks Fermented feed and they all love it, so maybe add a tiny bit of ACV into the warm water and feed and see if that entices them to try it. I always start my duckling the ones I have had to brood inside which has only been a few because I let moms do it, but It is 85* Storey's guide rec 90 to start and then we drop the temp 5* each week there after. I keep them out of any drafts too. So happy to hear they have made progress though.

 

[RitzyBud]

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[Shroppy]

Thanks for the reply! I blended in some hard boiled egg and cottage cheese and put tiny pieces of chopped dandelion greens on top. They did take a couple of greens which, of course, had a little mash attached so I think we are making progress. I have already been giving them Apple Cider Vinegar When you say fermented feed I understand you are talking about this:

http://ohlardy.com/fermented-chicken-feed

which looks like something I could set up quite easily

I DO have this product, whch is a low temperature dried dry ferment and feed it to my adults as a supplement. It started egg production in my three laying females inside of just a few days.

Diamond V XPC

Green Organic Yeast Culture


http://www.diamondv.com/languages/en/xpc-green/

I am going to add it into their mixed feed right now

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for the reply! I blended in some hard boiled egg and cottage cheese and put tiny pieces of chopped dandelion greens on top. They did take a couple of greens which, of course, had a little mash attached so I think we are making progress. I have already been giving them Apple Cider Vinegar When you say fermented feed I understand you are talking about this:

http://ohlardy.com/fermented-chicken-feed

which looks like something I could set up quite easily

I DO have this product, whch is a low temperature dried dry ferment and feed it to my adults as a supplement. It started egg production in my three laying females inside of just a few days.

Diamond V XPC

Green Organic Yeast Culture


http://www.diamondv.com/languages/en/xpc-green/

I am going to add it into their mixed feed right now

I use this method https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/no-strain-hot-water-easy-fermented-feed-method-w-video will have to look into this Green Organic Yeast Culture...

How are the ducklings today?

 

[Shroppy]

They are VERY active, running around, eating moist crumbles and fresh-ground greens in a dish of water. In and out of the water dishes..and yes I am changing these regularly! Drying off under the heat lamp, then doing it all over again. Feeling thankful and blessed today

We have named them Sapphire and Emerald as the adults have gorgeous shimmering plumage.. Emerals is quite a bit bigger than Sapphire although Sapphire was the one I really had to work hard with the hand-feeding. These are supposed to be all female but I am wondering now..