Is mold my silent duck killer?

[Duck Inspector]

I have lost one duckling to what I suspect is some sort of mold induced illness and two more are very ill. The lost duckling acted off for about a day or two, just real sleepy and hidden away from the other birds. The other two just lay there and sleep for an hour or so, take a few steps, eat and drink a tiny bit and sleep some more. They're breathing is heavy and short. I moved them into a large bin in my room with clean aspen bedding and gave them some save-a-chick in their water to pump them up a bit. I'm also going to get some probiotics today, other than that I don't really know what to do. I have no way of knowing if the sickness is bacterial, fungal, or viral as I cannot take them to a proper bird vet. I don't want to give them antibiotics if they don't need them or if I don't match up the strain correctly but I am willing to try anything.
If anyone has any experience with this or can offer some more specific information it would be greatly appreciated. I have seven more ducklings out in the coop and I'm worried they too might be affected. They are about 4 week old Rowen and Pekings, a few of each. The only duckling not affected is Miss Trudy, she has slipped tendons in both her legs so she lives in the house with me.

 

[Erica]

Hi Duck Inspector,

why do you suspect mold? Was their bedding very moldy? Even if they do have aspergillosis (you could possibly see greenish dark material in the lungs if you did a necropsy after one passed) there is usually some other reason for the lowered immunity.

I would go back to basics: food, water, warmth. Are all 3 things as they should be? If so, check for runny nostrils or damp patches under the wing after they've been asleep in case they have a respiratory disease. Make sure they haven't been drinking foul water (I know ducks foul their water more than any other birds, but algae or rotting material will harm them).

Sorry, I'm not sure what the main duck diseases are, but it might be a wise idea to keep them away from your face and wash hands well until you know more.

I hope a duck expert comes along to help you!

cheers
Erica

 

[Duck Inspector]

I suspect mold because I have noticed some mold under their feeder and their bedding was moldy underneath, once I picked it up it was obvious. I had to pick everything up to find it, on top everything was dry and clean. We moved them all out last night and put them in a pen that is dry and warm. They have a different food dish and I have been checking the water every couple hours to make sure its clean and that they're still drinking. Those ducklings are still doing well, as far as I can tell.

I checked the two in my room, the down under their wings is still dry. The Peking's breathing is rougher since I posted and she's coughing a bit now. It seems like they're may be some discharge from her nose, it looks darkish. The Rowen is in better shape, she is still a little excited to drink.

In short, I still have no clue but they are warm, dry, watered and well fed.

 

[Duck Inspector]

Well, the two in the house made it through the night but the Peking died at around noon today. There was alot of noise coming from their bin so I went over and she was flopping around and running around in small circles bumping into the walls. She fell down and kicked for a small bit and then was gone. This one was different than the last duckling, we just found that one but it seemed like it died in its sleep. The Peking struggled alot and its bum was covered with lime green diarrhea.

The Rowen in our room is doing OK, she still wants to eat and drink if I bring it over to her. Other wise it just seems like she gets up to poop (also green diarrhea but more pastel colored) and move to a new spot to sleep. And she sleeps alot.

The other ducklings back in the coop seem good, I can never tell in the mornings because they sleep later than the other birds. Between the remaining babes they drank about 2 gallons of Save-a-Chick and ate quite a bit of food. They're still not as lively as my handy capped duck, which I'm using as my control duck, she's not sick at all.

I hope someone out there knows what this is, I'm trying to give as many details as possible without writing a novel each time.

Thanks in Advance,
Duck Inspector

 

[Habibs Hens]

sounds like poision to me

you sure ducks not eaten a poisionous weed or plant or worse still pesticide infused plantation

 

[Duck Inspector]

Its possible, they were alowed to free range durring the day with the rest of the flock. The only thing we fertilized in the garden this year was the corn and we dug that down in trenches at the begining of the spring. The adult ducks play over there all the time and are fine; perhaps the yougsters are too sensitive?

I'll have to look into poisoning; if anyone has a good link or two about common duck poisons that would be great.

Also, the ducklings in the coop are doing good. I put a pan of water out for them to play in (it was very hot today) and they went right to makin noise and playing. The lone sick duckling in my room has started getting up and feeding and watering herself a bit, but I still have to bring it to her now and then. Miss Trudy (handy capped duck) trys to cheer her up and they chat a bit, it seems to help.

 

[Duck Inspector]

Well, after a week long battle with whatever this is; the sick duckling dubbed "Tiny" died late this afternoon. Her vet appointment was for tomorrow afternoon but I feared the intense heat these past few days would be too much and they were. I will have to call the vet, I plan to bring another duckling from the flock to get a check-up as a representative of the flock. Hopefully we'll figure this thing out tomorrow and get everyone ship-shape.

 

[Sylverfly]

I have sick/dying ducks as well and just found out that another member on here was having similar symptoms with their chickens we both are feeding Dumor starter/grower, I'm wondering if they have a bad batch of feed out on the market, I'm calling the company tomorrow. Don't know what your feeding but if its the same brand I'd consider throwing out the feed and buying a different brand made by a different company.

 

[Duck Inspector]

I have been using Dumor feed for the entire flock. (Everyone at their age group getting the proper feed.) That bag of feed has been gone for a good while now but I would like to hear what the company has to say just out of curiosity.

I took Miss.Trudy to the vet and we have our answer.....Coccidia! We got some Antibacterial called SulfaMed-G (Sulfadimethoxine) and will begin medicating the flock tomorrow. It is the water soluble powder.

I have never used this product before so if anyone knows any important tid-bits please feel free to let me know.

Has anyone ever had their birds catch Coccidia from pigs or cows? Three people at our residence work at another farm and one of them refused to observe the bio-security rules. (But they are gone now

) I'm figuring the sickness either came from the other farm or possibly with new bird arrivals in the spring. Either way prevention is on everyone's mind now.