Growing duck died randomly

[jonesjuliejones]

Hello all.
I hope someone here can shed some lite on this for me.

I have baby ducks...well they have grown very fast now. They are getting their new feathers so I am guessing about 8 weeks old or so. They have been in the house since I got them from Tractor Supply. I took them off the light pretty quick because they did not seem to like it. They were just too hot with it. Happier without it.

I had been taking them out to play in the sun and water (clean baby pool water) then bringing them back inside once dried.

They were beginning to get too big to keep inside in a huge tote. So I put them outside in a pin that is off the ground and no way anything could get to them. I went out the next morning to feed and one had died. I am at a loss. They were all just fine. Playing, eating drinking .
(it was laying on its side neck stretched out)

Can anyone help me to understand what could have happened? I brought all others back into the house. (When I say house, It is actually a 40ft motor home.) lol we are on land and going to build. So you can see why I am needing them outside. But I don't want this to happen again.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC and sorry for your loss.
What state do you live in?

 

[chickens really]

Possibly they huddled on top of that one and it smothered.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Very sorry for your loss.

 

[healingtreeharp]

Sorry for your loss.
I can sympathize as I too am staying in a motorhome/trailer. My 2.5 week old (assuming roo) imprinted on me. I tried everything to get him to go with the hen that hatched 9 others only days before.
He won't leave my side but for a moment!

Is there any possible chance your lil quacker got into something it shouldn't have?
Having had ducks before myself, I do seem to remember they're just as bad as chicks when it comes to picking up things they shouldn't.
Your mystery may never be solved. Keep an eye on the others, but I suspect this is an isolated occurrence.
Hugs!

 

[jonesjuliejones]

Welcome to BYC and sorry for your loss.
What state do you live in?

I am in Texas.

 

[jonesjuliejones]

Sorry for your loss.
I can sympathize as I too am staying in a motorhome/trailer. My 2.5 week old (assuming roo) imprinted on me. I tried everything to get him to go with the hen that hatched 9 others only days before.
He won't leave my side but for a moment!

Is there any possible chance your lil quacker got into something it shouldn't have?
Having had ducks before myself, I do seem to remember they're just as bad as chicks when it comes to picking up things they shouldn't.
Your mystery may never be solved. Keep an eye on the others, but I suspect this is an isolated occurrence.
Hugs!

Its weird because there was nothing that it could have gotten a hold of. Clean pen. Just put them in their. had a wire bottom so we put something down for them to walk on. Clean food and water.

 

[jonesjuliejones]

Sorry for your loss.
I can sympathize as I too am staying in a motorhome/trailer. My 2.5 week old (assuming roo) imprinted on me. I tried everything to get him to go with the hen that hatched 9 others only days before.
He won't leave my side but for a moment!

Is there any possible chance your lil quacker got into something it shouldn't have?
Having had ducks before myself, I do seem to remember they're just as bad as chicks when it comes to picking up things they shouldn't.
Your mystery may never be solved. Keep an eye on the others, but I suspect this is an isolated occurrence.
Hugs!

Somewhere I saw someone say that black flyes are deadly to ducks. Weird cause our ducks (when growing up) would chase and eat them all the time. I am at a total loss .

I had also seen where somone said that they can die from being scared/ lonely. Wondering if because I did not let him warm up to that pen? Maybe he was more sensitive than the others? No clue

 

[casportpony]

I am in Texas.

The only way to know for sure would be to have a necropsy done.
Contact this place if you think that is an option for you:
https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/

 

[jonesjuliejones]

Possibly they huddled on top of that one and it smothered.

No I don't think that was it. They have tons of room there, and they are used to cuddling up. They are big now so when they cuddle their bodys are touching but their heads are usually stretched over each other. lol
You could see where the other ducks tried to "wake it up" its neck was wet. And all 3 were where this duck was , which was on the other side of the pen...away from the food and water.