Losing new ducklings (help)

[Shtinkypuppie]

On the morning of 9/2, I got 16 2-day-old Muscovies (hatch date 8/31). That same evening, one was dead under the brooder plate - no apparent warning. The next day (9/3), one was lethargic and seemed a bit off balance. I tried coaxing it to drink some sugar-electrolyte water, and it took a little but didn't perk up. It was dead under the brooder plate that night. This morning (9/4) I found another randomly dead, this time next to the waterer. One side of its face was wet, but not the whole head.

I know it's neigh impossible to pin down a cause of death, especially over the internet, but I'd really like to know if I'm doing something wrong. I have a brooder plate with a feather fringe which keeps a steady 90 deg below it. I'm feeding Purina Flock Raiser 22% with a bit of nutritional yeast stirred in. I'm using the usual less-mess duckling waterers made from food storage bins with holes cut in the top.

I appreciate any suggestions or advice. I'm really tired of digging tiny graves.

 

[casportpony]

Can you post a picture of you brooder?

 

[Shtinkypuppie]

Can you post a picture of you brooder?

Yes - I've added one to the original post.

 

[casportpony]

The brooder plate looks like it might be a little small for that many ducklings. Can you try using a heat lamp instead?

 

[Shtinkypuppie]

They definitely all fit under it - at least for now. I can definitely try another heat source if you think it'll help.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Are you giving them warm, lukewarm or cold water?

 

[Shtinkypuppie]

Are you giving them warm, lukewarm or cold water?

Lukewarm

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Lukewarm

At this stage I would stay with warm water. Lukewarm feels different person to person and even slightly cool water at this age can cause shock which can cause symptoms like you are describing and kill young ducklings.

 

[Shtinkypuppie]

Will do, thank you. Do you do anything to keep the water warm?

 

[Shtinkypuppie]

Well another duckling is fading. This one has the same lethargy as the one I tried to save, but it also has pronounced nasal congestion. I gave it a couple swims in a bowl of warm water and it managed to remove a ton of mucous, but it still sounds congested and looks to be breathing hard.