Mallard Ducks Dying. Plz Help

[ncrick40]

At this point, I have 18 flying mallards in a pen with about half the pen floor covered with mining belt. I have lost several over the last months and I can't figure out why. Before they pass, they will seperate from the flock and just lay down. When they try to move, they can't stand up, and there wings do not function. All they can do is crawl. They eventually just roll over on their backs and act like they can't even hold their head up and begin shaking their head. I believe this is the later stage of whatever is going on. I have had one or two recover. I have been feeding whole corn, and I either bring them a bucket of water in two bowels or I have their kiddie pool filled. Yesterday, I was surprised to find a dead rat in the pen with them. It had been there for a few days but no way it's
Been there since I started loosing them. Last year I was having problems with raccoons getting in the pen, but I blocked off the coons entrance but I have been seeing some tracks around the pen. I'm not sure if that's got anything to do with it or not. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

At this point, I have 18 flying mallards in a pen with about half the pen floor covered with mining belt. I have lost several over the last months and I can't figure out why. Before they pass, they will seperate from the flock and just lay down. When they try to move, they can't stand up, and there wings do not function. All they can do is crawl. They eventually just roll over on their backs and act like they can't even hold their head up and begin shaking their head. I believe this is the later stage of whatever is going on. I have had one or two recover. I have been feeding whole corn, and I either bring them a bucket of water in two bowels or I have their kiddie pool filled. Yesterday, I was surprised to find a dead rat in the pen with them. It had been there for a few days but no way it's
Been there since I started loosing them. Last year I was having problems with raccoons getting in the pen, but I blocked off the coons entrance but I have been seeing some tracks around the pen. I'm not sure if that's got anything to do with it or not. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Thanks

Are you only feeding whole corn? that is not a balanced diet, it's okay for a snack but they need an all purpose feed that contains nutrients for poultry. What is mining belt? And very sorry for your loss, almost sounds like some kind of metal poisoning.

 

[Speceider]

Not sure what mining belt is, but first thought is toxins.. .possibly heavy metals exacerbated by a poor diet. Only corn is not good , they need more nutrients, like in a poultry feed.

Clint

 

[creaturelife]

i give my duck whole corn and and a scoop of all purpose feed they have been fine my goat all so like the all purpose feed but i have to keep her out of it not good for her

 

[ncrick40]

I apologize, what I meant by mining belt is basically a rubber covering over the ground

 

[Miss Lydia]

I apologize, what I meant by mining belt is basically a rubber covering over the ground

I'm thinking diet could be the cause other than metal toxicity. I give my flock a snack of whole corn especially when it is going to be very cold but they can not be healthy living only off of corn only. it's not a balanced diet. Do you have an extension co-op in your area you might call them and ask if there is anywhere close buy where you could get a necrospy done on some of your dead ducks, they will tell you how to go about preserving the body and I believe cost isn't much, We could guess all day but if you went this route you'd know for sure. why do you have the ground covered? could something actually be in the ground that they maybe ingesting? something that may have been spilled there even long before you were living there?

 

[ncrick40]

Yes this was all I was feeding. I did not even think about them needing more. I know in the wild they love corn. I feed corn through the winter, layer crumbles after. I had no problems last year. It seems they are fine when it is cold, I guess that could be a sign.
I covered part of the ground to try to reduce mud. And when I built the pen, I had dirt hauled in from our farm to build it up and level it up so I do not think anything would have been spilled there.

 

[ncrick40]

And I do not know of any extension co-ops but I will check. Thank you for the help

 

[Miss Lydia]

And I do not know of any extension co-ops but I will check. Thank you for the help

Look for county extension office, they maybe able to help, but changing diet will help alot. Wild ducks do eat corn when they can but I doubt they make a sole diet out of it. Good luck and please keep us updated on them.

 

[ncrick40]

The day I recieved your alls advice, I switched feed. I had problems with one of the ducks the following day which I'm guessing still could have been from the lack of nutrients. Since, I haven't noticed any getting struggling or getting weak. Thank you for you help