Duckie noises, serious or not

[jellyfish97]

I just recently got 2 ducklings. They're about 2 weeks old now. My friend who lives with me filled up a kiddie pool with about 4-5 inches of water and it's not that warm and when I seen them I took them out cause I don't want them getting a chill. They're used to being outside but I don't let them swim in water that deep yet. Well yesterday I noticed one of the babies has started to sneez and sort of make a wheeze noise when he breathes hard. He also isn't as active as he was. I've let them blow his nose with water but it hasn't seem to work. Should I try to flush it out? Or should I try to find some where that takes ducks in the Tennessee/Alabama area and get him checked out? They're very special and very spoiled and any help would be greatly appreciated as this is my first time raising baby ducks.

 

[TroyerGal]

Hmm... my duckies do that as well. they are about 6 weeks old, and they all seem to wheeze a bit.
they are all doing fine though... i really don't know what that is :/
but i wanted to tell you that to reassure you that they are most likely fine btw, mine have been doing that for a while

 

[Amiga]

@jellyfish97

Hi, I don't want to scare you, but with that story, I would get them to a vet.

Ducklings can get pneumonia, and you are right - if they are in water it needs to be the same temperature as the brooder. He could have gotten chilled.

In the meantime, get some poultry vitamins (with electrolytes if you can find it) and put that in the drinking water once a week for a boost.

I would let him get into brooder-temperature water, no soap, and see if he can snort some stuff through his nares, but only for about 5 minutes or so, and then I'd get him right into a clean, warm brooder and towel him off really well. Check and see if his legs or bill feel warmer than normal.

I would rather be overly cautious than risk losing the little one.