Ducks dying after drinking water???

[Flockofmine]

What a horrible thing to witness. I wonder if ducks can be trained to use nipple water systems, They can only get a little bit at a time.

thank you! It has been quite upsetting watching them go from normal healthy happy to acting “ drunk” falling over and just not surviving. Literally right before our eyes and immediately after just water playing and drinking!

 

[Flockofmine]

I also just confirmed our last well test was august 2019 showed nothing out of the ordinary except one well had a higher reading of manganese than what is normal. But only one well ...nothing else in the water. It’s so strange. I am looking into sending one of the deceased for a necropsy but trying to find info online for how to go about this. Not sure what is open or closed anymore.

 

[Flockofmine]

Is it possible for them to drink themselves to death? Within minutes?

 

[blackandtan]

Is it possible for themselves to drink themselves to death? Within minutes?

If it IS an electrolyte issue, I’d say yes. I don’t know about ducks per se but I do know that in people it happens in minutes, vomiting, weakness, and seizure followed by death, but people who may be at risk ie: athletes, marathon runners, whatever, usually know this and won’t gulp plain water.
But thirsty duckies don’t know that, anyway it can’t hurt to try it

 

[casportpony]

Is it possible for them to drink themselves to death? Within minutes?

Yes. If they have been out of water, then guzzle cold or cool water, death can happen in 5-15 minutes.

 

[Knighstar679]

I saw your post and I am so sorry for your loss.

I have something that might work to leave water for them to drink that they cant play and splash out all the time but might stand up to them longer. I know it has worked so far with my new ducklings. Then you could still do pans to let them dunk their heads in through out the day. Maybe if they had access to water for drinking more through out the day that they didn't play and spill all over it might help. I have to say after I figured out the trick to these i like them.

Rent A Coop Water Cups

Not a perfect solution but an idea to try.

 

[Flockofmine]

Also a really weird key to this mystery... is that some of them go on to fully recover within 15 min or so even after falling over with this seizure like activity and others do not recover. If it was poisoning of some sort I think they would all get affected and pass away and not recover quickly like some do. I know it has to do with water because it’s immediately after they are drinking. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

timeline:

new water refilled...
Ducks Excitement of new water and they begin quacking and all come over to drink and play. They drink and then leave - some drink longer than others so it’s extremely variable. Few minutes go by and Some will begin to become wobbly while walking and this quickly progresses to falling over and an inability to stand or upright themselves. They will seem to have seizures with jerky movements and pupil changes.. third eyelid will rapidly move back and forth. Duck will progress to stiffening of body laying flat on side with legs and neck extended. They breathe but seem unaware and no quacks or sounds. They will move wings and legs but seem to be very spaced out and unaware like “coma” From here it either gets quickly better and they right themselves and stand and then walk and are completely recovered quickly or they go downhill fast and pass away. This is all within a span of 15 min or less. It’s completely crazy to witness.
I’m trying to pick apart everything.... I have had them on chick starter then switched to purely organic duckling and duck crumbles to flock raiser. I have been using pine shavings and I’m suspicious of these shavings are getting kicked up into the water is it contaminating it instantly with somethings somehow? Is pine toxic to ducks? But I would assume pine shavings are safe since I have used same for months. Is there any toxins that would affect them so quickly and then they can recover from like that? It’s so puzzling because it’s so quick after the water refill that I’m assuming that it has to do with the water somehow I’m going to be building new waterers tomorrow to see what may help going to try to use chicken wire top to limit the access a bit to a large pan of water as I saw someone do online. Maybe they will drink slower and I won’t have to refill as often through the day therefor reducing the excitement and guzzling of water each time I’m refilling. It literally seems they drink themselves into a coma in minutes.

 

[Flockofmine]

I saw your post and I am so sorry for your loss.

I have something that might work to leave water for them to drink that they cant play and splash out all the time but might stand up to them longer. I know it has worked so far with my new ducklings. Then you could still do pans to let them dunk their heads in through out the day. Maybe if they had access to water for drinking more through out the day that they didn't play and spill all over it might help. I have to say after I figured out the trick to these i like them.

Rent A Coop Water Cups

Not a perfect solution but an idea to try.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flockofmine]

Update: no losses today!!
I have been frequently offering and Then taking away the waterers all through the day after a few minutes to get them to calm down with the guzzling and not allow them to totally just have unlimited access.... Seems to have worked because no wobbly ducks or deaths. It does seem to be the speed at which they are drinking and really drinking a lot at once. I’m building new waterers and going to start putting multiples in there so that I can I’ll refill one at a time each time so it’s never a “ take away the water” then return the water thing..... It seems to initiate too much excitement and starts the guzzling behavior. They all begin to quack excitedly when I remove the water in anticipation of the fresh water returning. Still a work in progress but I’m getting there! Don’t want to lose anymore precious Ducklings!!!

 

[Patty Sharbaugh]

Update: no losses today!!
I have been frequently offering and Then taking away the waterers all through the day after a few minutes to get them to calm down with the guzzling and not allow them to totally just have unlimited access.... Seems to have worked because no wobbly ducks or deaths. It does seem to be the speed at which they are drinking and really drinking a lot at once. I’m building new waterers and going to start putting multiples in there so that I can I’ll refill one at a time each time so it’s never a “ take away the water” then return the water thing..... It seems to initiate too much excitement and starts the guzzling behavior. They all begin to quack excitedly when I remove the water in anticipation of the fresh water returning. Still a work in progress but I’m getting there! Don’t want to lose anymore precious Ducklings!!!

My ducks r dying the same way. Tried brewers yeast they still died. On non medicated feed. Starting to get adult feathers. No other complaints @ tractor supply. Afraid 2 feed & water them. Plz help. Will try warmer water.