Lost 4 Peking ducks last night!! No idea why!!

[shawluvsbirds]

Do you think the guineas could have killed them?

 

[debrasage]

Run a heat lamp? Hmmm? Mold in the bedding?

We have a heat lamp but not sure about the mold, would that kill them? We have been using wood chips and we do change them but I’m not sure when my husband changed it last.

 

[debrasage]

Do you think the guineas could have killed them?

I don’t think so, if anything I think the ducks could take them haha the ducks are about twice the size of the guineas. And they usually all cuddle up with each other.

 

[debrasage]

I don’t think so, if anything I think the ducks could take them haha the ducks are about twice the size of the guineas. And they usually all cuddle up with each other.

There was also no sign of any kind of attack or anything, the ducks looked completely fine on the outside.

 

[Cayuga momma]

There was also no sign of any kind of attack or anything, the ducks looked completely fine on the outside.

An animal trying to get in, even if it couldn't, could stress them enough in certain situations that could kill them. I would get a necropsy if I were you.

 

[casportpony]

Very sorry for your losses. So you lost 4 ducks and 3 guineas? Some questions for you:

• Are you using non-teflon coated bulbs in the coop? Teflon coated bulbs are very toxic.
• What temperature is the coop?
• Ask you husband when the wood chips were changed last and if there is a possibility that they contain toxic plants.

 

[PirateGirl]

I agree with @casportpony
My first thought/question was going to be if the heat lamps (or bulbs in them) are new and if there's any chance they are teflon coated.

Since at this point you don't know what's going on, I would give the coop a good clean, disposing of all bedding (like burn it or bag it and trash it, don't put it in the run or the compost), and air out the coop well. I'd also bleach all feeders and waterers, just in case.

Also you never know what you'll find during clean out. Weird poop, rat hole chewed in the floorboards, some random clue

 

[Miss Lydia]

What ages and are any of the others showing respiratory distress seems if mold toxity they would be showing some kind of respiratory issues. But if it is mold you should be able to see it by pulling the bedding away from the wall and looking under and on the walls

 

[PirateGirl]

Good point, another clue you could see during a coop clean!

With the duck house (since they are always wet), I do like to let it dry out all day before I add fresh bedding back in. Sometimes I find the floorboards are damp.

 

[casportpony]

You said you're in Mississippi? Try contacting this place to see about having a necropsy done:
http://cvm.msstate.edu/labs/mvrdl-pearl-ms