Help! I've lost 2 ducklings in 2 days

[buggymuffin]

So I thought I would give everybody an update. Still waiting on test results to identify the parasite & bacterial infection.

But the Khakis are doing great. No symptoms yet, running around getting into trouble. They made their way up the stairs and into the back room of the barn the other day and were waiting for us when we went out to bring them in. (Our attached barn is divided into three rooms, one larger one in the front & two in the back, one with 2 stalls and a back door & another with 3 small doors (1x1) that the ducks stay in.) Last night I went out and closed the back barn door an hour or so before dusk & they found their way up the ramp and into their own room. They are so smart. We were going to get an automatic door, but we heard that ducks don't really go in by themselves, they don't mind being outside so it wouldn't do much good. Now we are reconsidering.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So I thought I would give everybody an update. Still waiting on test results to identify the parasite & bacterial infection.

But the Khakis are doing great. No symptoms yet, running around getting into trouble. They made their way up the stairs and into the back room of the barn the other day and were waiting for us when we went out to bring them in. (Our attached barn is divided into three rooms, one larger one in the front & two in the back, one with 2 stalls and a back door & another with 3 small doors (1x1) that the ducks stay in.) Last night I went out and closed the back barn door an hour or so before dusk & they found their way up the ramp and into their own room. They are so smart. We were going to get an automatic door, but we heard that ducks don't really go in by themselves, they don't mind being outside so it wouldn't do much good. Now we are reconsidering.

Great news!!! but about leaving them outside, not a good idea. too many predators out there who would love to have duck dinner. They have trained themselves to go inside at night where they will be safe. thats awesome.

 

[buggymuffin]

Yeah, we wanted to make sure they were in at night. I guess the automatic doors work great for chickens. Lets them out in the morning & secures the coop at night. But if the birds don't go in, well, defeats the purpose. If ducks get to where we can trust they will go in, maybe we will consider one, but until then, we will do it ourselves.

 

[buggymuffin]

So, for all those who have been waiting... The vet called this afternoon. The haemoprotozoan species could not be identified. Apparently many of them have not been ID'd yet, so unless we can find a research facility that is researching them. So that means that it wasn't Malaria or one of the other more common ones. They said the odds were something like 1 in 100,000 & we got hit three times. The most likely reason being that the Cayugas were more susceptible for some reason. The underlying infection was staph in the liver. Unusual, but a common bacteria. I guess it was like a perfect storm for the infection. We have three new Cayugas coming next week from a different hatchery, so hopefully we will have better luck with these.

The good news is that it is treatable with oxytetracycline. The vet also said he called around the country and the most common advice he got was mosquito control. Eco-Smart from Home Depot is safe for them. We are going to spray the yard again tomorrow. I think the state is going to start spraying soon as well. It can't come soon enough. I honestly have never been anywhere where the mosquitoes are as voracious as the are in New England.