Duckling died...what are we doing wrong?!!?!

[beckella]

Hoping for some advice here. We got 5 ducklings on Thursday (from Metzer)...2 pekin, 2 welsh harlequin, & 1 cayuga. They all looked happy and healthy until this morning when we woke up to find that one of the welsh harlequins had died.

We are new to ducks and from what I've read they are pretty hardy so now I'm questioning what we are doing. We have them on pine shavings, w/ a light and it ends up being around 85 degrees. The feed store gave us duck starter/grower and we've let them have as much food & water as they want and they seem to be constantly eating/drinking. On the Metzer paperwork it said that you should only give them food/water for 15 minute increments because they can drink too much and kill themsleves. Is this true???!?!?! Any tips on what we can do...we absolutely love the ducklings and are so sad we lost this little guy and want to prevent anymore for going to.

Thanks so much!!!!

 

[chickendancer234]

Hmm... I dont think the thing about the water is true. My ducks were given a big bowl of water all the time when they were ducklings and nothing happened to them. They should probably get more water because the lamp will make them hotter and therefore thirstier. Also, make sure to clean the water also because they like to spit their food in there and make mud

Alot of times the ducks that come from hatcherys don't make it (not sure why, maybe the journey in the box?). My friend bought 11 ducks and about half of them ended up dying within a few weeks and they were given everything they needed

 

[rainplace]

If everyone else is still healthy it's possible that you're doing everything correctly. Sometimes the little ones just don't make it.

Do they huddle under the lamp?

 

[beckella]

Quote:
Not at all...they'll sleep all together but usually they're running around eating & drinking.

 

[tia]

What is your water dish like? I put marbles in mine when they are that small, so they can't fall in it and drown. You can use a plastic milk jug and cut holes into it - big enough so they can get their head in and out, but not big enough for them to go in and go for a swim. They must have water if they have food (but you probably know that) I have been told that they sometimes eat pine shavings when they are small and they swell up inside. I use towels for bedding when they are real small and wash them out - it is a real pain, but they don't eat them. Besides that I am not sure what to tell you. I hope you do not lose any more.

 

[Sweetfolly]

Quote:
I use milk-jug waterers too, and I use towels for bedding. I tried pine shavings, but the duckies were too interested in nibbling on them! I I take the towels outside and hose them down and let them dry in the sun before throwing them in the wash. It IS a real pain!

I don't have any other useful advice. It could just be that the wee little Harlequin was stressed from shipping - I had a little White Hookbill that died after I got it home last year (but he was very obviously failing already when we got to the Post Office). I know how helpless it makes you feel to lose one.

I hope all the rest of your ducklings thrive and grow up to be big stinkers!

 

[CityChicker]

The thing about water in 15 minute increments is only for the initial couple hours out of the shipping box. Once they are hydrated, it is essential to make sure they always have access to drinking water. Letting them run out is dangerous, especially if they have access to food. Temperature is also somewhat critical for young ducklings, especially in a small group. The first week, they really should be at 90-95 degrees. If you have never kept ducklings before, don't guess at the temperature. Have a thermometer. As far as the shavings, occasionally you will have a young duckling that will gorge on them. I use towels for the first week or so and then shavings after that.

Even under the best of circumstances, you will sometimes lose a duckling or two. Losing significant numbers of them is very unusual though. Losing 50%, Chickendancer, is almost unheard of. There was something wrong with those birds or how they were raised. I frequently have raised groups of 40-50 ducklings and not lost a single one (yes, from hatcheries). Losing half definitely suggests something major wrong somewhere.