Ducks Whistling when Breathing

[DuckGirlie]

Hello. I’ve had my ducklings for about 3 weeks and I’ve never had ducks before. This morning when I went to check on them I could hear them breathing almost like a whistling. I panicked and made a vet appointment but when I went back to check on them they weren’t doing it anymore so I canceled it. They are eating, drinking, and pooping plenty. They’re very energetic and sweet. I keep them in a pen in my garage with large shavings as bedding and a heat lamp. I didn’t know they needed to wash their heads until today so I made them a waterer that they can dunk their heads into and they love it. Should I be worried about them? Do you think it’s a sickness or do you think their noses were just dusty because they couldn’t wash them out? Thank you

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Do give us more details, please!

• How old are your ducklings, exactly?

• How many are they?

• What breed(s) are they?

• What do you feed them?

• Do you let them eat and drink freely during the nights?

• Do you let them bathe?

• Could you post pictures of their entire area?

...Tell us EVERYTHING you can think about, because each tiny detail could help us to understand what is happening here...

Your ducklings could have been too hot, or they could have been bothered by the fact they could not clean their nostrils (they NEED to be able to do it constantly)...
...If they were sick, I don't think their breathing problem would have so suddenly stopped?

For the time being, I would not worry.
But still, just in case it happens again : tell us what you can about your ducklings.

(If you think it can help, a picture of your ducklings - or several - would be appreciated.)

 

[DuckGirlie]

Thank you so much!

Hi.

Do give us more details, please!

• How old are your ducklings, exactly?

• How many are they?

• What breed(s) are they?

• What do you feed them?

• Do you let them eat and drink freely during the nights?

• Do you let them bathe?

• Could you post pictures of their entire area?

...Tell us EVERYTHING you can think about, because each tiny detail could help us to understand what is happening here...

Your ducklings could have been too hot, or they could have been bothered by the fact they could not clean their nostrils (they NEED to be able to do it constantly)...
...If they were sick, I don't think their breathing problem would have so suddenly stopped?

For the time being, I would not worry.
But still, just in case it happens again : tell us what you can about your ducklings.

(If you think it can help, a picture of your ducklings - or several - would be appreciated.)

Thank you so much! Here are my answers:

They’re 3-4 weeks old. They’re starting to get real feathers, especially on their bellies

There are 2 but I’m not sure what sex yet

They’re Khaki Campbells

I feed them organic duck crumbles with niacin supplement and 18% protein. I’ve been switching them from the 20% protein feed I had them on because I can’t find that one again

They are given 24/7 free access to food and water

I’ve let them swim a couple of times but I’ve been nervous to let them swim much because I read that incubator hatched ducklings shouldn’t start really swimming until 6 weeks?

Before today they weren’t able to wash their heads because I didn’t know but I made them a waterer they can dunk their heads on earlier and they will have free access to this from now on.

They do have a heat lamp but I’ve raised it as high from the brooder as it can go and I try to angle it so they can get away from it

They’re still not quacking but one of them just started making noises that I can’t tell if it’s a cough or an attempt at a quack?

I clean their pen once a day minimum, more if they get it extra dirty

I change their water twice a day

I haven’t started giving them grit because I read that you didn’t need to if they were only eating the crumbles?

They’re in the same garage where my dad does wood working but he does all his sawing outside so there shouldn’t be sawdust blowing around them

I’ve attached a picture of their set up, the heat lamp is off right now because it’s hot outside

 

[Papaye]

Yeah.... no : you are doing GREAT.

Thank you so much!

You are welcome.

They’re 3-4 weeks old. They’re starting to get real feathers, especially on their bellies

There are 2 but I’m not sure what sex yet

They’re Khaki Campbells

I feed them organic duck crumbles with niacin supplement and 18% protein. I’ve been switching them from the 20% protein feed I had them on because I can’t find that one again

Okay...

By "organic duck crumbles", do you mean the ones specifically for ducklings?
Sorry for asking, but we have to be precise here. (Not the same country, so not the same bird feed sold!)

IF SO : at 3-weeks-old, you can start mixing their crumbles with duck pellets.

In fact, what I would recommend is :
• from 3-weeks-old to 5-weeks-old : feed the ducklings with a mix of duckling crumbles and duck pellets;
• at 5-weeks-old : feed the ducklings a mix of duck pellets and wheat; and give them grit in another feeder (not the same than the one used for the food!).

(You do what you want, but just to say - in case you would want to try : to keep my ducklings strong and the healthiest possible, I personally also mix food grade Diatomaceous Earth in their food... as soon as they are born!)

They are given 24/7 free access to food and water

That's good.
At least until they are grown up, ducklings need to have an unlimited access to their food AND their water!

I’ve let them swim a couple of times but I’ve been nervous to let them swim much because I read that incubator hatched ducklings shouldn’t start really swimming until 6 weeks?

I don't have any experience with incubator hatched ducklings, BUT I have experience with ducklings hatched by chicken hens.

What I can tell from experiences is : ducklings ARE able to produce oil to waterproof their feathers; but they (first) NEED to be able to swim in order to stimulate their gland to produce this oil.

So, by allowing your ducklings to swim/bathe, you are actually helping them.

Just monitor them when you let them bathe, and watch them carefully to see if their fluff and feathers stay wet in the water...?

(Is weather currently warm, where you live? If so, your ducklings really should be fine.)

Before today they weren’t able to wash their heads because I didn’t know but I made them a waterer they can dunk their heads on earlier and they will have free access to this from now on.

Ah, ah!
You will always learn new things about your birds.

They do have a heat lamp but I’ve raised it as high from the brooder as it can go and I try to angle it so they can get away from it

If ever current weather is warm where you live : do you have a mean to let the ducklings run outside during the day? (In a small pen, or even cage? Monitoring them of course?)
It would actually really benefit them to be able to eat grass (and insects) AND enjoy the sun(shine)...

They’re still not quacking but one of them just started making noises that I can’t tell if it’s a cough or an attempt at a quack?

Probably the voice that is changing!
That's normal.

I haven’t started giving them grit because I read that you didn’t need to if they were only eating the crumbles?

That's right : you don't need to give grit to ducklings still only on crumbles.

I’ve attached a picture of their set up, the heat lamp is off right now because it’s hot outside

Okay, yeah...

Is it only for today, or is it usual? If it is usual, and if you can of course : do take advantage of the heat to get your ducklings outside during the day (at least for some hours if possible, but even 20 minutes or so would be better than nothing), in a secure pen (or cage).

I’ve attached a picture of their set up, the heat lamp is off right now because it’s hot outside

From what we can see of your ducklings on the pictures : they really don't look sick...?

I repeat myself, but I would not worry for them for the time being.
Keep watch, but don't make yourself sick with worry : your baby ducks look and sound fine.

Good luck with them!

 

[DuckGirlie]

Yeah.... no : you are doing GREAT.



You are welcome.



Okay...

By "organic duck crumbles", do you mean the ones specifically for ducklings?
Sorry for asking, but we have to be precise here. (Not the same country, so not the same bird feed sold!)

IF SO : at 3-weeks-old, you can start mixing their crumbles with duck pellets.

In fact, what I would recommend is :
• from 3-weeks-old to 5-weeks-old : feed the ducklings with a mix of duckling crumbles and duck pellets;
• at 5-weeks-old : feed the ducklings a mix of duck pellets and wheat; and give them grit in another feeder (not the same than the one used for the food!).

(You do what you want, but just to say - in case you would want to try : to keep my ducklings strong and the healthiest possible, I personally also mix food grade Diatomaceous Earth in their food... as soon as they are born!)



That's good.
At least until they are grown up, ducklings need to have an unlimited access to their food AND their water!



I don't have any experience with incubator hatched ducklings, BUT I have experience with ducklings hatched by chicken hens.

What I can tell from experiences is : ducklings ARE able to produce oil to waterproof their feathers; but they (first) NEED to be able to swim in order to stimulate their gland to produce this oil.

So, by allowing your ducklings to swim/bathe, you are actually helping them.

Just monitor them when you let them bathe, and watch them carefully to see if their fluff and feathers stay wet in the water...?

(Is weather currently warm, where you live? If so, your ducklings really should be fine.)



Ah, ah!
You will always learn new things about your birds.



If ever current weather is warm where you live : do you have a mean to let the ducklings run outside during the day? (In a small pen, or even cage? Monitoring them of course?)
It would actually really benefit them to be able to eat grass (and insects) AND enjoy the sun(shine)...



Probably the voice that is changing!
That's normal.



That's right : you don't need to give grit to ducklings still only on crumbles.



Okay, yeah...

Is it only for today, or is it usual? If it is usual, and if you can of course : do take advantage of the heat to get your ducklings outside during the day (at least for some hours if possible, but even 20 minutes or so would be better than nothing), in a secure pen (or cage).



From what we can see of your ducklings on the pictures : they really don't look sick...?

I repeat myself, but I would not worry for them for the time being.
Keep watch, but don't make yourself sick with worry : your baby ducks look and sound fine.

Good luck with them!

I don’t think they’re duckling specific! It just says duck crumbles and it shows both a duckling and a full grown duck on the bag. I will look into the diatomaceous earth as well! I’m a NUT about the health of all my pets so I’m up for anything to keep them healthy!

I don’t have a run for them yet but my dad is in the process of building one! In the meantime, I did buy them a kiddie swimming pool that I haven’t used yet because I was nervous so I appreciate the advice and I’ll start taking them out for little swims and playtime in the grass! I have a few movable pens that I can use to keep them contained until the run is built!

I appreciate all your help and thoughts, I was definitely super worried about them so I feel better now!

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

I don’t think they’re duckling specific! It just says duck crumbles and it shows both a duckling and a full grown duck on the bag.

Yeah... after thinking about it : even if the specific crumbles you feed your ducklings is for both ducklings and adult ducks, I would still recommend you to start mixing them with (duck) pellets.

(After all, your ducklings are now big enough to start eating pellets.)

I will look into the diatomaceous earth as well! I’m a NUT about the health of all my pets so I’m up for anything to keep them healthy!

Food grade Diatomaceous Earth has the advantage to be a natural product...!
(From experiences : DE can only help your ducklings to grow strong and healthy.)

I don’t have a run for them yet but my dad is in the process of building one!

Oooooh... will you post a picture?!

In the meantime, I did buy them a kiddie swimming pool that I haven’t used yet because I was nervous so I appreciate the advice and I’ll start taking them out for little swims and playtime in the grass!

Do monitor you ducklings while they are swimming, but honestly : I would not be surprised if they have already started producing oil to warterproof their feathers... since you have allowed them some time to bath (a "couple of time", but still...)!

Get them to swim for a bit everyday - when weather is warm and sunny -, and they should be able to entirely oil their plumage in a matter of days!

I have a few movable pens that I can use to keep them contained until the run is built!

Great!

I appreciate all your help and thoughts, I was definitely super worried about them so I feel better now!

Ah, ah, ah!
It is understandable... don't worry!

(You are welcome.)

 

[Yardmom]

Since The whistling disappeared it was likely related to not having dunking water. Very likely something in a nare.

I have no experience with DE. Please look into it before using it. Others on BYC have a very different opinion on it.