Duckling rapid death help!

[Raylynn13]

Hello I am new here and need some advice! I bought 6 of the yellow fluffy ducklings from TSC and for under a week they were happy energetic curious cute eating and pooping duckies. They were bigger than the other ducklings so I think they were a week old when I got them. Then within one day I lost all 6!! it was heartbreaking they went one at a time displaying the same symptoms- wobbling on their feet was the first clue- then they were pooping a whitish looking fecal matter, and shaking they necks a bit. They had a certain look to them where the neck was bulgy also. Once they displayed symptoms they were dead within hours, but before that they were active and just ducky. I both researched online before and after getting the ducks how to properly care for them and I’ve raised chickens before with no issue. I just called TSC to make sure it was not related to care- proper heat proper food proper water no toxins no dirty straw etc. And they assured me they care for the ducklings in the same manner. Before I realized that something was taking them all out I replaced the one deceased with 6 new ducklings same breed (Peking I was told ) but much smaller. Whatever this was moved through the older so quickly and all 6 of those now are deceased (within hours) however before hand I did mix the two different groups. I told them at TSC and they didn’t tell me to keep them separate and I had no idea that I should because I chalked it up to natural occurrence that they won’t all make it. The weird part is the last duckling died two days ago..... but my new ducklings are completely healthy and ducky as ever. I’m at a complete loss and can’t seem to find any reason but I don’t want to watch these ones perish also if it’s environmental or what ever it may be I will excercise prevention if I can find the reason. I’ve looked up duck diseases and illness to over drinking and I still don’t have a clue! I would appreciate any help as I’m feeling frustrated and fearful for my younger small brood. Thank you!

 

[SolarDuck]

@Isaac 0

 

[Raylynn13]

I wanted to add that they appeared to be having some sort of seizure or muscle spasm also as they died. it was awful to watch and not be able to help, all I could do was comfort them as they passed.

 

[Ratchnick]

Sounds like it could have been duck viral hepatitis or duck viral enteritus. Both are marked by sudden death and mortality rates of 90%. Hopefully your new ones don't get it but you wont know for another week or two.

 

[KaleIAm]

I'm very sorry for your losses. That sounds heartbreaking.

We could guess at what happened, and we might be close or even right, but the only way to know for sure is to send a deceased duckling in for a necropsy. It is surprising inexpensive to have it done by your state veterinary lab. It is likely too late this time, as decomposition can alter the results. If something like this happens again, you may want to consider a necropsy for answers, peace of mind, and the ability to protect your other birds.

I hope your new ducklings do well.

 

[Raylynn13]

Sounds like it could have been duck viral hepatitis or duck viral enteritus. Both are marked by sudden death and mortality rates of 90%. Hopefully your new ones don't get it but you wont know for another week or two.

I'm very sorry for your losses. That sounds heartbreaking.

We could guess at what happened, and we might be close or even right, but the only way to know for sure is to send a deceased duckling in for a necropsy. It is surprising inexpensive to have it done by your state veterinary lab. It is likely too late this time, as decomposition can alter the results. If something like this happens again, you may want to consider a necropsy for answers, peace of mind, and the ability to protect your other birds.

I hope your new ducklings do well.

Sounds like it could have been duck viral hepatitis or duck viral enteritus. Both are marked by sudden death and mortality rates of 90%. Hopefully your new ones don't get it but you wont know for another week or two.

Gosh I hope not! That’s scary that I wouldn’t know for another week or two? Why is that?

 

[Raylynn13]

I'm very sorry for your losses. That sounds heartbreaking.

We could guess at what happened, and we might be close or even right, but the only way to know for sure is to send a deceased duckling in for a necropsy. It is surprising inexpensive to have it done by your state veterinary lab. It is likely too late this time, as decomposition can alter the results. If something like this happens again, you may want to consider a necropsy for answers, peace of mind, and the ability to protect your other birds.

I hope your new ducklings do well.

It was so heartbreaking and my worst fear is to have it happen again. Hopefully I won’t have to but this is good to know for the future. Thank you!

 

[Raylynn13]

I was hoping for a tried and true answer and I couldn’t seem to find one online as it seems as if most symptoms are the same. I guess the fact that all 6 were so rapidly affected leans towards a viral infection. But could an external occurrence in the environment cause the same problem? I’m hoping that it isn’t because if it is than I bought infected ducklings? And they may have infected my newbies, and they could be fine for two weeks longer without the same thing happening until then? Prospects seem so dire when I think about it that way

 

[Mellowmalt]

When you posted the fact they all died so close to one another made me think it was most likely due to an infectious disease.
I haven't been around much till recently but I keep reading about the big commercial stores not only selling diseased stock but infecting all existing stock too. It's terrible. They would never own up to it, you can ask them as much as you want, their stock will always be A-grade even if 90% of them die. They wouldn't tell you that or they wouldn't even be able to shift the surviving 10%.

 

[Ratchnick]

I was hoping for a tried and true answer and I couldn’t seem to find one online as it seems as if most symptoms are the same. I guess the fact that all 6 were so rapidly affected leans towards a viral infection. But could an external occurrence in the environment cause the same problem? I’m hoping that it isn’t because if it is than I bought infected ducklings? And they may have infected my newbies, and they could be fine for two weeks longer without the same thing happening until then? Prospects seem so dire when I think about it that way

There is an incubation perioid usualy about a week up to two weeks where the duck is infected but not showing symptoms yet. If the ducklings died as soon as they came in contact with the virus it would not have much of a chance to spread.