Ducklings Died Overnight

[Jess651230]

Yesterday I found 3 ducklings that fell into a sewer. The fire department came to get them out and in the process the momma duck left them. We tried to find her after they were out but couldn't so I took the ducklings in. I got a big Rubbermaid tote, cut the middle of the lid out and zip tied some wire mesh to it. I put a towel down, some hay and had a heat lamp on top of the mesh. They had a water bowl and I couldn't find any chick feed so I put some carrots, apples and celery in a food processor for them. They seemed fine. I woke up this morning and went to check on them and they were dead. I am just trying to figure out why they may have died, what I did wrong. I turned the heat lamp off when I went to bed, could that be the reason? I was so afraid of it starting a fire that I just couldn't leave it on while sleeping. I let them swim around in the bath for like 5-10 minutes, they seemed to love it, but should I have not done that?

 

[DuckyDonna]

You don't say how old they were or the best guess, but I'd go with the heat lamp being the problem if they were very young. Also, they may have gotten chilled from the bath too.

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry for your loss, if the heat lamp was turned off, and they were fairly young that may have been the reason.

 

[Jess651230]

You don't say how old they were or the best guess, but I'd go with the heat lamp being the problem if they were very young. Also, they may have gotten chilled from the bath too.

Sorry, I've never had ducks before. I'm guessing a week old. The bath was warm and we wrapped them in towels right after and then they were under the lamp for a few hours before it was turned off.

 

[BabasCoop]

If they were unfeathered, they probably got too cold without heat.
Mama Ducks have her chicks sleep under her wings. And ducks run around 99 degrees.
I’m going to assume your home was considerably cooler than 99 degrees.

 

[Jess651230]

Thank you for your responses. I was hoping to hear that it wasn't my fault but now it just kills me knowing it was.

 

[Isaac 0]

We all make mistakes.

 

[BabasCoop]

Thank you for your responses. I was hoping to hear that it wasn't my fault but now it just kills me knowing it was.

Don’t stress over it. Your intentions were good and kind hearted.
We need more people like you in this crazy world.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Thank you for your responses. I was hoping to hear that it wasn't my fault but now it just kills me knowing it was.

Life is all about learning!