My ducks are all dying!!! What should I do????

[Twizzlebee]

We started out with 11 mallard ducklings, got them at a day old about a week and a half ago. Now we have 6, due to them starting to die all of the sudden. We are first time duck mommies, but we don't know what's wrong! They appear healthy one day, and the next day one will be dead. And now I have a really big issue, one was stepped on my black lab, and i'm fairly positive it's leg is broke. Is there any way to help it? It can hardly move And I really would like to do everything in my power to help it. It can move a little bit, more like scoot, and has ate and drank a little bit. It's in the same tank as its sibling, but with a glass wall so it can see them, but not be bullied by them. Please help us!

 

[Oregon Blues]

I'm sorry, but it is absolutely impossible to guess why your ducklings are dying without knowing anything about their treatment. Brooder? Feed? Water? Handling? What are their symptoms. Ducklings don't just drop dead. What are they doing before they die?

I would not have ducklings located in any place that a dog could step on them. With that sort of injury, I would put the duckling down. if you don't want to do that, keep it separated, where it can see the other ducklings and make sure it drinks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We started out with 11 mallard ducklings, got them at a day old about a week and a half ago. Now we have 6, due to them starting to die all of the sudden. We are first time duck mommies, but we don't know what's wrong! They appear healthy one day, and the next day one will be dead. And now I have a really big issue, one was stepped on my black lab, and i'm fairly positive it's leg is broke. Is there any way to help it? It can hardly move And I really would like to do everything in my power to help it. It can move a little bit, more like scoot, and has ate and drank a little bit. It's in the same tank as its sibling, but with a glass wall so it can see them, but not be bullied by them. Please help us!

What are the temps in your brooder? there was a op who said she was loosing her pekins a while back and it was because the heat was too high. sounds like a back injury with the one the dog stepped on, how did the dog get into the brooder? maybe with rest and plenty of TLC it may get okay if not then like OB says it maybe the best thing to put it out of suffering.

 

[Twizzlebee]

They have a red light bulb over their tank, and it doesn't appear too hot because sometimes they huddle under it, but most of the time they roam freely within the brooder. And as with my dog, we had them outside for a swim. She's usually good about just ignoring the ducks, and was laying down when my 5 year old niece decided to throw the ball for my dog and she got up and went to run after it, consequently stepping on the duck. We haven't lost any in the past couple days, and the one that got hurt seems to be doing better. It is seperated, and has been eating and drinking. We don't handle them other than to get them outside to swim. For water we have a little upside down pint thing, which is plenty deep for them to clear out their nostrils, but not deep enough where they would drown. Food wise, our local feed supply store reccomended the unmedicated chick feed for them. And before they die, my brother did say that he noticed they would appear a little slower than the rest, and not have interest in grooming themselves like the others.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They have a red light bulb over their tank, and it doesn't appear too hot because sometimes they huddle under it, but most of the time they roam freely within the brooder. And as with my dog, we had them outside for a swim. She's usually good about just ignoring the ducks, and was laying down when my 5 year old niece decided to throw the ball for my dog and she got up and went to run after it, consequently stepping on the duck. We haven't lost any in the past couple days, and the one that got hurt seems to be doing better. It is seperated, and has been eating and drinking. We don't handle them other than to get them outside to swim. For water we have a little upside down pint thing, which is plenty deep for them to clear out their nostrils, but not deep enough where they would drown. Food wise, our local feed supply store reccomended the unmedicated chick feed for them. And before they die, my brother did say that he noticed they would appear a little slower than the rest, and not have interest in grooming themselves like the others.

It's still a good idea to have a thermometor in your brooder as part of basic care for ducklings and chicks for that matter. could they be getting chilled when outside swimming? after they swim do you put them right back in the brooder to dry off? unmedicated feed is good, plus maybe some brewers yeast or niacin added to keep leg issues away. chick feed doesn't have to amt. of niacin ducklings need. Keep the brooder clean is another top priority, ammonia can build up quickly inside the brooder because the have such watery poop, so maintaining as clean a brooder as possible and making sure if they wet their feed that you throw out unused portion at the end of the day, I know wasteful but mold can grow in feed quickly especially in a warm brooder. Maybe try getting some Poultry Nutri Drench and adding this to their water I won't be without it I give it to all my Ducklings and chicks when they first hatch for at least a week then on a weekly schedule after that, it's also good for adult birds when going through stressful times such as molting. http://barnyardsandbackyards.org/2010/09/18/review-nutri-drench/ I hope that what ever the cause that your at the end of it now and the rest will continue to be healthy..