Help! I'm just the babysitter!

[Knbc]

So I'm babysitting younger birds, chickens, turkeys, and four ducks. There are two black ducks that have lost their baby fuzz and are growing like weeds. Today one of the black ducks won't stand up very much and is breathing through his mouth. Doesn't seem right. PLEASE HELP!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Sounds like the duck may have been hot and the bathtub did the trick, may try letting him swim some more if he starts panting again.

 

[Sylie]

So I'm babysitting younger birds, chickens, turkeys, and four ducks. There are two black ducks that have lost their baby fuzz and are growing like weeds. Today one of the black ducks won't stand up very much and is breathing through his mouth. Doesn't seem right. PLEASE HELP!

Someone more experienced than I will be along soon but I wanted to touch base and ask a few questions in the meantime. Is the duck hot? Being black he may be overheated if your temps are high. Is he eating and drinking? What does his poo look like? (green, brown, white, yellow, watery, mucousy?) How long has this been going on? Are the owners in a position to come home if necessary? Has he been outside loose unattended where he could have gotten into something he shouldn't have? Are the other birds acting normally?

 

[Broody Bist]

Sometimes our ducks lay in the grass and pant when it's really hot or they need fresh water. (now we have trees planted so they'll have some shade to lay in and they love it) What's the temperature where you're at? They may just be hot.

 

[Knbc]

Owners are not able to come home. . The ducks are housed with chickens in a big box with food, water, bedding, the whole bit. She showed me how to put them in the tub, which they love, so i did this afternoon. It's still spring and chilly here so they have a heat lamp. The two black ducks will be put in their own house when owners return. He's not breathing through his mouth anymore. Poo is yellow green, same as other day whew owner was here. I guess i could put him back in tub without water to see how hes walking. Girl owner wanted to wait to get all of the birds after trip, but husband went ahead and got them without thinking about being gone for a week... Ugh.

 

[Broody Bist]

Sounds like the duck may have been hot and the bathtub did the trick, may try letting him swim some more if he starts panting again.

Agree

 

[WVduckchick]

I'm going to agree with the others. Ducks grow much faster than chicks, and they also don't need quite as much heat. It would be awesome if you could move them. Blame it on us, if the owners get mad lol
Just try to duplicate the setup, if you have spare stuff. If not, you can make a duck waterer from a milk jug, or butter bowl with holes cut strategically. Feed can go in any kind of bowl or plate for a while.

can you post a pic of all the birds and the current setup?

 

[Knbc]

He started panting after bath, water was warm/cool. It's chilly here. I noticed he wasn't standing well before bath, but i thought it was because he didnt want me to catch them, even though they purk up when walking to the bath... Cuz they know=). When he was panting he was shivering a little but seems fine now. Il'l watch him through the night. Thank you all. I really don't want be labeled a Bad duck sitter=)

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Owners are not able to come home. . The ducks are housed with chickens in a big box with food, water, bedding, the whole bit. She showed me how to put them in the tub, which they love, so i did this afternoon. It's still spring and chilly here so they have a heat lamp. The two black ducks will be put in their own house when owners return. He's not breathing through his mouth anymore. Poo is yellow green, same as other day whew owner was here. I guess i could put him back in tub without water to see how hes walking. Girl owner wanted to wait to get all of the birds after trip, but husband went ahead and got them without thinking about being gone for a week... Ugh.

So these are all fairly young birds in a box? I am imagining it is a brooder set up until they can get to their permanent housing? Are the turkeys housed in the box too? Might be too many birds in a small area. Ducks can get over heated.
It sounds like the owners should have put off getting birds until they got back from vacation.
I accidentally killed fish one time because I was not given specific directions on a salt water tank that I had no experience with prior.
You are doing the best you can with the situation.

 

[Sylie]

Owners are not able to come home. . The ducks are housed with chickens in a big box with food, water, bedding, the whole bit. She showed me how to put them in the tub, which they love, so i did this afternoon. It's still spring and chilly here so they have a heat lamp. The two black ducks will be put in their own house when owners return. He's not breathing through his mouth anymore. Poo is yellow green, same as other day whew owner was here. I guess i could put him back in tub without water to see how hes walking. Girl owner wanted to wait to get all of the birds after trip, but husband went ahead and got them without thinking about being gone for a week... Ugh.

I agree that he may have been hot. Did you put them in the tub before or after the panting started?