Ducklings with wet, itchy necks??

[nuggetchick]

I have 6 ducklings (4 Pekin, 2 Mallards) that hatched just over 1 week ago. Just yesterday one of them had a wet neck and I figured it got wet from the waterer (small plastic chick waterer with Mason jar attached) but today they all are wet on the sides of their necks and itching their necks a lot! I have just moved a humidifier closer as they seemed to have dry feet (peeling a bit) but I can't get the hygrometer to measure more than 35% humidity. What do you think? Should I be concerned??

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

What brooder are they in?
What feed are they on?
What bedding are you using?
What is the brooder temp?
Do they have a cool are and a warm area they can move between?

when all else fails, share some pictures as they speak volumes when dealing with any issues.

 

[nuggetchick]

Thanks for the help, CelticOaksFarm!! I think (hope) I figured out the problem. I found their nostrils were clogged and I sprayed them out with a water sprayer (just took a leap of faith with that cure!!)...so I think what they were doing was trying to get their nostrils into the water but it was too shallow so they ended up just getting their necks all wet! Silly ducklings!! I've since given them a larger waterer and the issue seems to have resolved itself!

But to answer your questions in any event, if you have further recommendations which I always welcome as a "newbie," I have them on an Organic Turkey Grower 24% as recommended by my feed supplier. I have them on wood shavings which I am changing regularly and just put them in a larger brooder box where they have ample room to move away from the heat lamp. It's about 90 under the lamp to 70 in the corners. Sound good?? Thanks again!!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Sounds much better. You will need to increase the brooder size and water source size rather often as they grow so they can continue to keep their nares cleared. By the middle of November you can switch them over to an all flock or flock raiser type food, even a waterfowl maintenance food. The females should start laying next spring and depending on your location and available daylight hours its likely to be March/April. At that time the girls should be offer either A- layer feed, or B- all flock with free choice bowl of oyster shell for calcium.

 

[nuggetchick]

Thanks again, Celtic Oaks Farms!!! Do you have any recommendations for an All Flock brand? I don't think our Organic Feed source offers one. We tried Nutrena once and the birds didn't seem to like it. We do also have chickens and turkeys in addition to the ducks. We currently feed them all organic layer, cracked corn, and oyster shell. They are all free ranged so they also get a lot of nutrients on their own! I'm in Wisconsin so it's going to be winter here soon!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Ask the organic store if they have a maintenance feed or multi flock feed. If not Purina is the most widely used brand around. As they become older you can give them oats too in their diet. Our ducks get whole wheat, whole oats as a part of the daily diet.