HELP! Found duckling dead:(

[Sweetfolly]

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Cedar shavings are BAD for birds for the reason you mentioned, but pine shavings are safe as far as I know. I use them for all my birds, and they grow up strong and healthy and live long lives!

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Me too. I start ALL my chicks and ducklings on pine shavings from day 1 (I throw a paper plate or a towel underneath the waterer though, otherwise they get too many shavings in the water and clogs it up and absorbs it all!) and I've never had a mysterious death that could be attributed to the shavings.

Unless there's a "bad" batch of shavings out there, I doubt that the shavings are the actual culprit in any of the recent ducky deaths that seem to only be connected by pine shavings.

But, to everyone here worrying about wood shavings, DO make sure you're using pine shavings and not cedar shavings for your ducklings! For a small number of ducklings, old bath towels are a practical way to go - you can just throw them in the wash when they get dirty. For larger groups of ducklings, I've used wheat straw in the past - it's a little thinner than oat straw, so younger ducklings don't have as much trouble walking on it, and if you make sure to remove any wet, soiled straw regularly you won't have a problem with mold.

 

[Batty about Banties]

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CUTE!!! Are those the same pellets they use for chickies?

 

[Batty about Banties]

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Cedar shavings are BAD for birds for the reason you mentioned, but pine shavings are safe as far as I know. I use them for all my birds, and they grow up strong and healthy and live long lives!

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Me too. I start ALL my chicks and ducklings on pine shavings from day 1 (I throw a paper plate or a towel underneath the waterer though, otherwise they get too many shavings in the water and clogs it up and absorbs it all!) and I've never had a mysterious death that could be attributed to the shavings.

Unless there's a "bad" batch of shavings out there, I doubt that the shavings are the actual culprit in any of the recent ducky deaths that seem to only be connected by pine shavings.

But, to everyone here worrying about wood shavings, DO make sure you're using pine shavings and not cedar shavings for your ducklings! For a small number of ducklings, old bath towels are a practical way to go - you can just throw them in the wash when they get dirty. For larger groups of ducklings, I've used wheat straw in the past - it's a little thinner than oat straw, so younger ducklings don't have as much trouble walking on it, and if you make sure to remove any wet, soiled straw regularly you won't have a problem with mold.

Thank you for the clarification! I was about the go empty the brooder!! I am getting younger ducklings tomorrow and will do the towel thing.

 

[Nikkumz]

UP your temp....95 ish for the first week then 5 degrees lower each week..If they are only 2 weeks old they should be around 90 ish under the lamp.

 

[mandelyn]

As soon as I read about the whole pine shaving thing I sent my husband to Goodwill for towels, $2 each and the really thick absorbent kind! Let me tell you, it's been way better than pine shavings. I'm not sure if the bedding causes them issues or not, but I did see mine trying to eat it, so I switched them. My 3 week olds are outside and they are on pine shavings, but they are also not trying to eat it.

But the towel thing, I have 6 towels, use 3 at a time since I have a big brooder. I put their water in a small kitten size cat pan, and that has helped SO MUCH with the water issue.

I also don't have pine shavings everywhere, LOL, now I have a bag by the rabbits, one outside in the hen house, and 4 bags in waiting in the garage. No more in the basement!

Also no more bedding in the water, which makes the water last longer. New water twice a day instead of 4 times. Using a chick waterer, they don't get the luxury of a whole gallon to throw around yet.

 

[Nikkumz]

You really shouldnt have 3 week olds outside yet, They still need to have a constant temp at around 85 degrees all the time.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

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I use shaving for all my ducklings and goslings, they nibble at it but don't ever eat very much. I feed duck/goose starter crumblings which are unmedicated. I tried feeding chick starter after someone on here said the medication wouldn't kill them. I ended up loosing half my ducklings the same way, live one minute dead the next.

 

[peepsandquacks]

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I have to disagree. Mine are 2 weeks old today, and they HATE the heating lamp. I have a 100w one in there, and its in one corner 'in case' they want it. But they always sleep in the corder opposite of the light, as far away as possible. They are now in a dog kennel with 6in high foam pieces on the sides (to prevent water spray) and they are perfectly happy at 70 degree ish their brooder stays at (away from the light). If I make it warmer, they pant and try and smoosh themselves against the wall to get away from the light.

The booklet I recieved with them says heat till 5 weeks old. I dont see them having heat any longer then another week or so. They have also been outside a few times and loved it.

Someone here told me to follow your birds, and I have to agree.

 

[Sore Thumb Suburbanite]

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I have to disagree. Mine are 2 weeks old today, and they HATE the heating lamp. I have a 100w one in there, and its in one corner 'in case' they want it. But they always sleep in the corder opposite of the light, as far away as possible. They are now in a dog kennel with 6in high foam pieces on the sides (to prevent water spray) and they are perfectly happy at 70 degree ish their brooder stays at (away from the light). If I make it warmer, they pant and try and smoosh themselves against the wall to get away from the light.

The booklet I recieved with them says heat till 5 weeks old. I dont see them having heat any longer then another week or so. They have also been outside a few times and loved it.

Someone here told me to follow your birds, and I have to agree.

I experienced the same phenomena with my ducks and goslings; they weren't really interested in being near the light after a couple weeks, at three weeks they were happy outside during the day and at 5 weeks they were outside for good. They never huddle together for warmth either. I do live in southern california though, so the weather is balmy and warm most of the time anyway. Its good to have a general outline temperature wise but its imperative to observe your birds' reactions and change things accordingly. All my birds are huge, healthy and happy at 8 weeks now.

 

[ducks_rcool329]

I use grass hay in my brooder, it works great! they can't eat it, and it stays dry.