Muscovy Ducklings, 4 have no eyes?!?

[happyduckygal]

Had 11 ducklings hatch 2 days ago now...... 4 of which have no eyes!?!? One is no longer with us... It also had a gimp leg and it was clear mama duck was not going to care for it and did not want me to save it and I did not want it to suffer. The other three seem to be doing well and are able to find and use food and water bowls. What should I do? If I were to keep them as special needs ducks i think my adult male ducks would bully them.

Side note*** mama duck is muscovy. I have 2 male muscovys and one male pekin and not sure if they they have "cross mated." My Pekin female and Pekin male usually stay in their own pack and don't socialize with the moscovys but I'm not sure if they've mated or not... If that's the case could that cause this deformity?

 

[happyduckygal]

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Probably should have muscovy in your title. You might get more responses. I've never heard of any problems except sterile ducks from crosses.
I wonder if it is bacteria related?
See if I can get someone who might have answers.
@Quacking Pigeon @sourland @Pyxis

 

[happyduckygal]

Probably should have muscovy in your title. You might get more responses. I've never heard of any problems except sterile ducks from crosses.
I wonder if it is bacteria related?
See if I can get someone who might have answers.
@Quacking Pigeon @sourland @Pyxis

Is there a way to edit the title? Haha I'm new to posting. I've only used this site for when I Google questions I may have, this site is where I always find the most answers

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Is there a way to edit the title? Haha I'm new to posting. I've only used this site for when I Google questions I may have, this site is where I always find the most answers

Not sure. After a certain amount of time, you can't edit. You could go to the first post and try to edit it. You should have the option if it is in the alotted time frame.

 

[happyduckygal]

Not sure. After a certain amount of time, you can't edit. You could go to the first post and try to edit it. You should have the option if it is in the alotted time frame.

I figured it out.... I also have the same post on the "Duck" forum. Lol like I said I'm new and didn't find that forum until after posting it here. I thought I better post it there too and the duck peeps can help out a little more .

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I missed it there. Hopefully you get your answers!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Is there any possibility that the muscovies are closely related ? Poultry tend to handle inbreeding well, but if there are hidden negative genes something like this might become apparent. Crossing between two breeds Muscovy/pekin should actually lessen the chance of physical difficulties. Realistically I have no clue as to what caused these deformities.

 

[Trux]

Hi and hope you find the answers your looking for. The Title on this thread peeked my curiosity, I'm not a duck person and I don't have the room anyways But now I will be able to follow along and see what the experts have to say

 

[Pyxis]

Hi! I'm gonna post this on both threads.

If your incubation temperature is too high or oxygen too low for days 1 through 6, this can cause chicks to hatch with no eyes. I'd assume the same can happen with ducklings, though the time frame might be different.

Also, very high levels of selenium have also been known to cause missing eyes.

http://ufdc.ufl.edu/IR00004437/00001

It could of course also be a genetic defect, something that the parents are passing on.