is my duckling okay?

[bcj13]

i recently got 2 ducklings 5 days ago. the ducklings have been eating and drinking a lot, and i haven’t noticed many problems except one of my ducklings seems to be breathing heavier than the other. he’s still really active and there’s no difference in how much he eats drinks or plays from the other duckling, he just breathes a little heavier and ive noticed it mainly when i cuddle up with him in my bed. he is a little more sleepy than the other ducklings though, but i feel like that’s just because he’s young. so i’m just wondering what i should do?

 

[DuckyDonna]

What breed are they? What is their brooder set up? What are you feeding them?

 

[bcj13]

What breed are they? What is their brooder set up? What are you feeding them?

they are pekin ducklings, i have them set up in a plastic bin with their food and water on the cooler side of the bin and i have a infrared light bulb in the lamp on the other side. i’m keeping the temperature for the first week between 86 and 90, but it’s usually 86 or 87. they don’t seem too hot or too cold though. i have their food in a dish and their water in a dish big enough to fit their beaks into, and i refill it throughout the day when it starts to get low. i have the flake shaving bedding at the bottom of the bin and i usually change the wet bedding out from under the pan that i have that catches the water from the bowl. i’m feeding them the DuMor 24% chick starter and i change that twice a day. unfortunately, i haven’t been able to get them the brewers yeast yet because of coronavirus, there’s none in the store, so i had to order off of amazon and it has yet to come.

 

[Isaac 0]

To rule out overheating, I would set them in a tub, and move them to room temp for a few minutes and see if the panting stops.

 

[bcj13]

To rule out overheating, I would set them in a tub, and move them to room temp for a few minutes and see if the panting stops.

i’ve taken him out and let him rest on my bed for a bit and he still breathes heavily. he doesn’t seem in distress though.

 

[Isaac 0]

Is he showing any other symptoms besides the labored breathing? Have you fed them any treats recently, or have you seen him eating bedding? Gently run your hand along his neck, do you feel any obstructions?

 

[bcj13]

Is he showing any other symptoms besides the labored breathing? Have you fed them any treats recently, or have you seen him eating bedding? Gently run your hand along his neck, do you feel any obstructions?

there’s no other symptoms and i haven’t been given them anything besides their chick starter. i haven’t seen them eat anything that they aren’t supposed to but they do peck at the bedding. i don’t feel any obstructions though.

 

[Isaac 0]

Could you post a video of the breathing? Upload the video to youtube or Vimeo and then copy/paste the link here.

 

[bcj13]

Could you post a video of the breathing? Upload the video to youtube or Vimeo and then copy/paste the link here.

i couldn’t get a good video since they were moving around so much

 

[Isaac 0]

I don't hear any breathing?