duckling dying!

[Lanissa86]

My son has 2 ducklings about 2 1/2 weeks old. Well, when I got home today the smaller black one (might be cayuga) is REALLY WEAK! I have the two ducks in a box with 6 chicks from the feed store until I can find another box. The Big yellow duckling is thriving and doing great. He is nice and strong and growing every day! This duckling looks as if it hasn't even grown much since we brought him home! I don't know if its the stress of being in with chicks, or if he just isn't getting his feel of feed and water or what!? I am feeding the ducklings chick starter. Is that the right type of food for ducks? I put him in the brooder that I have set up for my hatching eggs, but he can't stay there because I am already moving chicks into it that have hatched! What am I to do? I am afraid I might lose him and my son will be SO heartbroken! Any suggestions?

 

[ruth]

I have just recently started hatching and raising ducks. I have read that you should not feed them chick starter because it is medicated and ducklings eat too much and o.d. on the medication. I have read that you can mix it with non-medicated chick food. I've been feeding my ducklings 20% layer feed - same thing I feed my chickens - I wet it and they love it and it's easy for the baby duckies to eat. I've read they should really have about 23% but our local feed store doesn't carry it but have ordered some duck feed for me.

As far as the weaker duckling - give it some Poly-Vi-Sol liquid baby vitamins/supplements. You can drop a few drops directly in it's beak and add some to its water. I add it to all new babies (chick or ducks) water source. You can also try to get it to eat aside from the others so you know it is eating. They also love scrambled egg and it's good for both chicks and ducks.

 

[MissPrissy]

Ruth has given you excellent adivse. I would like to add that you could try to alos offer the weaker baby some plain yogurt with gamebird starter crumbles mixed in each morning and try a puree of spinach and lettuce leaves in a soupy water for an afternoon treat. I just hatched 2 appleyard ducklings and they love their treats.

 

[Lanissa86]

Thanks for the suggestions, the only problem is... I don't have anything you are suggesting! I am so sad that the little guy won't make it. He just lays on his side now.... Once in awhile he gets up and drinks and eats..he seems to be pooping just fine, but just goes back to lay down and when he stands he is very wobbly.

 

[Katy]

If the feed is medicated with amprolium it's fine for ducklings. Over the years that's all I've ever fed mine. Does he have deep enough water to keep his nostrils clear? If you feel like he hasn't grown since you got him he might just be one of those failure to thrive ducklings and nothing you do or could have done would have made a difference.

 

[Lanissa86]

Thats what I am starting to think. At first I thought, well maybe he is an East India small duckling, but even my other east indias grew much bigger then what he is now. I just feel so sad, my son is going to be so hurt! We lost all of our pullets to my dog, I think a lot of my eggs are not going to hatch, and now we are losing a duckling!

 

[ruth]

You can buy Poly-Vi-Sol at any drugstore, Wal Mart, and many grocery stores. It's a baby vitamin. Try getting some vitamins in the poor little thing and it may surprise you and revive. Best of luck. I did have one little duckling that did not grow. After 3 weeks, the others were almost full size and it was still the same size as the day I bought it when it was 2 -3 days old. I followed all of my own advice but it never grew. I found it dead one morning but up until that point it acted perfectly normal, would follow the others around the yard all day and swim and eat and poop - just didn't grow a bit. At night I would isolate it and put it in hutch with two new chick hatchlings so it could get rest and eat - but alas it didn't make it. Still have no idea why. Just happens sometimes so give it your best shot.