Ducklings with Duck hepatitis? Vet-free treatment?!

[StPaulieGirls]

Got the ducks from a local backyard breeder who has sold to other people I'm in touch with. The duckling that died was 9 days old. It seemed completely fine about an hour or two before it died. Eating, drinking, running. We check on them very regularly. Then, suddenly this duckling was on its own under the heat lamp while the others were up and about. When I picked it up, it was limp. It died in my nephews hands 15 minutes after we noticed it, with an arched back and tremors. We note some bloody discharge near its vent. All the other ducks are fine right now, but we're very anxious that this is hepatits. All signs point to it, though we didn't do a necropsy. We will with the next loss.

They're in a hex-pen brooder with a sweeter heater and a red brooder bulb to choose from. We clean the feeder and waterer a dozen times a day and the bedding gets totally cleaned out every other day. We started them on niacin and brewer's yeast three days ago.

Thanks for any information. We feel pretty hopeless.

 

[Isaac 0]

As you are probably aware, DVH is highly contagious, mortality rates often reaching 100% with ducklings under the age of three weeks, that noted, in the next couple of days you should be seeing deaths within your flock, if not, I would think something else.

 

[StPaulieGirls]

Hi folks,
So, it's been a few days since our mysterious duckling death and we haven't yet had any additional losses. The other 20 ducklings look to be in good health. Do you suppose that means we're likely in the clear in terms of hepatitis? We're dosing niacin in both food and water, still. Anything else you'd do after losing one baby? Can't figure what went wrong.
Thanks, and have a good week.
- Kerri in Minnesota