My baby ducks have a runny nose and sound congested what should I do

[hailey_marie]

I have 2 baby ducks ones an Indian runner and the other is a Cayuga and there both Abt 4 weeks old. Recently I've noticed the Indian runners nose has been running and it concerned me so naturally i looked it up, only to see google talking about new duck disease??? And now my Cayuga is breathing loudly like she's stuffy...I'm really worried and I don't know if it's just a cold or something more. what should I do? Most vets in my area don't treat chickens and ducks and I don't know if my parents will be willing to take them to the vet as they think it will be to expensive for some yard birds, but I love them so much and there my babies. I don't know what I should do....and if they do have it is there even a treatment for it. I'm really scared because Google said it spreads fast and the survival rate is very low.....please help me as much as possible. They both sound really congested and it's worrying me so bad. The symptoms just started happening to my Indian runner about three days ago and I just noticed heavy congested breathing my my Cayuga today, but this morning my baby Cayuga got her head stuck in her cage and I had to help her get out...so maybe it has to do with that?? But I don't think so.....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does your ducklings have a water container deep enough for them to dunk their heads to clean out their nares and eyes. This is very important. What type of bedding are you using? are you still using a heat lamp; if so what is the temp in their brooder? If too warm that can cause a stuffy nose. Is it clear water coming from your Runner was it after you picked her up? Or when do you notice it?

 

[hailey_marie]

Does your ducklings have a water container deep enough for them to dunk their heads to clean out their nares and eyes. This is very important. What type of bedding are you using? are you still using a heat lamp; if so what is the temp in their brooder? If too warm that can cause a stuffy nose. Is it clear water coming from your Runner was it after you picked her up? Or when do you notice it?

The snot coming out of the Indian runners nose is clear and very runny. And there water dish isn't deep enough but it sits inside a pie pan because they spill out all there water and soak there shaving and that is deep enough for them to dunk there head into, but if u recommend getting a bigger water dish I would happily do so. I notice it when she's laying down, that it just runs slighty. I usually have there heat lamp off during the day because it's pretty hot here right now and turn it on only at night. Someone recommended me giving them a warm steamy bath to help with the congestion so u think that would help? I'm going to tractor supply today to buy them some respiratory medication for chickens and ducks that drop into there water and was thinking about bying medicated feed to mix with there normal feed. I called a local vet and the recommended taking them in soon fi things dint get better

 

[hailey_marie]

The snot coming out of the Indian runners nose is clear and very runny. And there water dish isn't deep enough but it sits inside a pie pan because they spill out all there water and soak there shaving and that is deep enough for them to dunk there head into, but if u recommend getting a bigger water dish I would happily do so. I notice it when she's laying down, that it just runs slighty. I usually have there heat lamp off during the day because it's pretty hot here right now and turn it on only at night. Someone recommended me giving them a warm steamy bath to help with the congestion so u think that would help? I'm going to tractor supply today to buy them some respiratory medication for chickens and ducks that drop into there water and was thinking about bying medicated feed to mix with there normal feed. I called a local vet and the recommended taking them in soon fi things dint get better

They shaving they use are pine shavings (sorry I forgot to add that originally)

 

[Miss Lydia]

The snot coming out of the Indian runners nose is clear and very runny. And there water dish isn't deep enough but it sits inside a pie pan because they spill out all there water and soak there shaving and that is deep enough for them to dunk there head into, but if u recommend getting a bigger water dish I would happily do so. I notice it when she's laying down, that it just runs slighty. I usually have there heat lamp off during the day because it's pretty hot here right now and turn it on only at night. Someone recommended me giving them a warm steamy bath to help with the congestion so u think that would help? I'm going to tractor supply today to buy them some respiratory medication for chickens and ducks that drop into there water and was thinking about bying medicated feed to mix with there normal feed. I called a local vet and the recommended taking them in soon fi things dint get better

The medicated feed only protects for coccidosis so no need to buy it. What you need is a container similar to this so they can dunk their heads but not climb into Putting a tray under is excellent you can even use puppy pee pads on the tray which will help soak up the water they spill. There is Vet RX is that what your talking about> And a steamy bath can help just don't make the water too warm it burns.
Are you sure they need heat at night still? do they have an area in their brooder where they can get away from the heat lamp if they are too warm?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I agree with @Miss Lydia . You don’t need a vet you need a deeper dish of water. Their nares become clogged if they cannot dunk their head to clean them. Also at 4 weeks turn that heat lamp off they don’t need it not even at night.

 

[hailey_marie]

The medicated feed only protects for coccidosis so no need to buy it. What you need is a container similar to this so they can dunk their heads but not climb into Putting a tray under is excellent you can even use puppy pee pads on the tray which will help soak up the water they spill. There is Vet RX is that what your talking about> And a steamyView attachment 3892899bath can help just don't make the water too warm it burns.
Are you sure they need heat at night still? do they have an area in their brooder where they can get away from the heat lamp if they are too warm?

I'm pretty sure they need it bc my house is usually set to the low 60s at night and I sleep with a fan in my room on top of that, they do have a little space tk get away from it but not a lot, if u think they need more I can definitely move things around and give them more and yes that is what I was talking about i just couldn't remember the name at the time thank you. And I'm going to go find some Tupperware to cut like that right now actually that is very smart

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I'm pretty sure they need it bc my house is usually set to the low 60s at night and I sleep with a fan in my room on top of that, they do have a little space tk get away from it but not a lot, if u think they need more I can definitely move things around and give them more and yes that is what I was talking about i just couldn't remember the name at the time thank you. And I'm going to go find some Tupperware to cut like that right now actually that is very smart

No 60s is perfectly fine for a duck they have feathers. Mine are off heat completely at 3-4 weeks and they are brooded in a barn even when it’s 40F outside.

 

[hailey_marie]

I agree with @Miss Lydia . You don’t need a vet you need a deeper dish of water. Their nares become clogged if they cannot dunk their head to clean them. Also at 4 weeks turn that heat lamp off they don’t need it not even at night.

Ok I will go ahead and do that, but my house does stay at the low 60's at night. That isn't to cold right? I'm just slightly concerned about that bc I also have a fan running in my room that is on high

 

[hailey_marie]

No 60s is perfectly fine for a duck they have feathers. Mine are off heat completely at 3-4 weeks and they are brooded in a barn even when it’s 40F outside.

Ok thank you I will remove the heat lamp then and I will get them a deeper water dish right now! I think I might still get them some vet rx tho just to be safe