Duck questions

[Amiga]

Take a look at tweetysvoice and 70%cocoa's setups for water management. Just want you to know that almost all of us, from what I read here, struggle at first with water management. You can get it sorted out and life will be better.

But the answer is not to reduce ducklings' access to water. No, they need water for drinking and head washing at a minimum. And 24/7 for, IMO, the first ten weeks. Then only eight hours at a time without water, and never any food without drinking water.

Regarding the neck problem, I would put triple antibiotic ointment (no pain killer - that's toxic) on the neck, just a tiny dab, twice a day for four days. It is irritated, and I would hate to see it infected.

Now there's always the possibility of a fungal infection, so keep watching it. If it looks fungal, you'd want a different kind of salve.

Watch that heat! People have overheated their ducklings to the point of death, sadly enough. I kept a small thermometer in the brooder, and always there was room for the ducklings to get away from so much heat without getting chilled.

 

[allisonmarie]

This is our set up. I scooted the tote 6" farther away from the heat lamp last night an stuck in a little house for them to get away from every thing in. Yes there are kids a dog an a rather large husband in the house but the kids don't stick their hands in an so far the only one who holds them is my husband (I sometimes do but I'm more of a chicken person myself). The only thing i can think of that would be causing irritation would be the stone we are using to elevate the water. (They have the water jug an a dunking glass that I refill often). Ill start using the ointment just because I know the little guys got to be uncomfortable. Ill keep updating. Thank you guys!

 

[idahogirl]

Ok so I have a question I bought some blue Swedish ducklings I have them for 4 days now there not brand new baby's I have no idea how old they are but the place said they will be full grown in two months when do I put them outside into there pen

 

[Kevin565]

Ok so I have a question I bought some blue Swedish ducklings I have them for 4 days now there not brand new baby's I have no idea how old they are but the place said they will be full grown in two months when do I put them outside into there pen

Is your pen predator proof? Does it have proper shelter from the elements?

 

[Amiga]

I'd like to hear more about the ducklings, idahogirl, like how many you have, and what they are up to.

 

[allisonmarie]

Ducky is worse. Losing feathers around neck an face. I am putting on the ointment twice a day. The other duckling is fine though. The one losing feathers I pick it up an it's skin feels warm. I've pulled them away from the heat a good foot over the past couple days an there is constant fresh water. I add more every hour an a half aside from at night an then it's a big jug before bed time. Any ideas?

 

[Amiga]

Is the other duckling pulling feathers?

Could this be a sensitivity to the environment? Could you use a different kind of brooder or bedding?

 

[allisonmarie]

The other duckling isn't aggressive towards the other an seems to get more clingy when I take the other out to treat it. I'm starting to get more worried because its lost the feathers that cover their "ears". Ill look into getting some hay instead if pine. This brooder set up is the only one we have seeing as we don't live in the country yet.

 

[Amiga]

Okay, the ointment may not be working in which case it's probably not external bacteria. So I would stop that at least for a few days.

Please go over again:

what they are eating
what their drinking water is like
how often they get a warm bath
if you have a head washer in the brooder
what the bedding is
how warm the brooder is
if there's anything with a sharp edge on it in the brooder.

For now, I would use old towels for bedding, I would make sure duckling's getting two warm baths a day, make sure the brooder is dry and not swampy (it can be done, please search the forum for ideas), I would get a larger brooder box, I would get a thermometer to make sure the temperature is right and that there is a cooler spot in the brooder, I would get a magnifying glass and check for anything unusual on the skin.

 

[Kevin565]

Have you checked over the duckling for possible mites or even lice?

Did any of the other poultry appear sick when you picked up your duckling?