My duckies are 4 weeks old. They are out in their coop- it's a large secure one room duck house. During the day it can get warm- so I open the top door (so they cannot get out but have more fresh air). I cannot let them roam freely during the day because they might wander into the pond and they don't have their feathers yet. So usually daily I herd them towards a small yard enclosure for them. Friday I had opened their top door and it wasn't time for me to 'herd' them to their yard. A few hours passed and when I came out to freshen up their water and herd them to their yard I found one of my black ducklings on his back looking helpless. He wasn't paddling- he just laid their looking helpless. I immediately scooped him up to assess him. He seemed fine but was shaking his head and trebling quite a bit. I tried to let him stand and he just fell over but he sure tried. I sat down on the ground with him holding him unsure of what to do really. All the other ducks were excited to see me because they knew it was yard time and everyone else was totally fine (and still are).
So I had my son give them fresh water. Then I heard my son run out half shouting there is a bee in there and he is flying into things.I got up and went in and there was a bee in there flying drunk- sometimes falling to the ground. Just like they fly when they sting someone and are drying. I was like crud- I have no idea what to do. I have seen my ducklings try to catch bees in the yard and have had to distract them because I am pretty sure eating them might not be such a great idea. So I wonder if he tried to eat it and it stung him?
I gave him water and he drank for a short time, vomited a couple times after drinking. And within 30 minutes of me finding him I held him when he took his last breath. I honestly still have no idea if it were the bee and if there is something I could have done. It happened so fast. There is absolutely nothing in their coop except straw, water and their food. Literally. I don't think he could have gotten anything and the fact that he did drink some meant (to me anyhow) that he wasn't choking. I thought perhaps some sickness but well over 3 days later all the other ducks seemed to be fine. Eating, drinking, pooping, foraging and working on feathers.
We lost 2 ducklings within the first 3 days of getting that 'batch' so they were tiny. He was a big duck and I was really sad to have to do that. I can't imagine if one of the ones I am attached gets sick or something.
Any thoughts about a bee sting or ideas of anything?
So I had my son give them fresh water. Then I heard my son run out half shouting there is a bee in there and he is flying into things.I got up and went in and there was a bee in there flying drunk- sometimes falling to the ground. Just like they fly when they sting someone and are drying. I was like crud- I have no idea what to do. I have seen my ducklings try to catch bees in the yard and have had to distract them because I am pretty sure eating them might not be such a great idea. So I wonder if he tried to eat it and it stung him?
I gave him water and he drank for a short time, vomited a couple times after drinking. And within 30 minutes of me finding him I held him when he took his last breath. I honestly still have no idea if it were the bee and if there is something I could have done. It happened so fast. There is absolutely nothing in their coop except straw, water and their food. Literally. I don't think he could have gotten anything and the fact that he did drink some meant (to me anyhow) that he wasn't choking. I thought perhaps some sickness but well over 3 days later all the other ducks seemed to be fine. Eating, drinking, pooping, foraging and working on feathers.
We lost 2 ducklings within the first 3 days of getting that 'batch' so they were tiny. He was a big duck and I was really sad to have to do that. I can't imagine if one of the ones I am attached gets sick or something.
Any thoughts about a bee sting or ideas of anything?
