My Silkie Hen (Chicken) Has Adopted My Ducklings

[farmgirlsomeday]

Thanks to the good advice from y'all, I made this little duckling waterer today. It's pretty deep - at least 4 inches. Does it look okay or have I missed something?

 

[farmgirlsomeday]

PS: the brown stuff that's already all over it is chick crumbles, courtesy of the baby chicks and ducklings ;-)

 

[subhanalah]

It looks great! How is it I working out for them?

 

[farmgirlsomeday]

They seem to be drinking well from it. However, I am pretty worried this morning because one of my two ducklings is sneezing and sort of shaking her (his?)little head. I've brought her up to the house and set up a box with a soft towel and the brooder lamp, and she's definitely sick. She's very lethargic and isn't interested in eating or drinking :-(

 

[Going Quackers]

hmm that's too bad, what is the food? and yes, the waterer looks good.

 

[subhanalah]

How cold is it where you live? Do you think the silkie is too small to cover all of the babies outside? Maybe you should brood both ducks inside so the sick one doesn't get lonely?

edit to correct the alleged "auto correct"

 

[Miss Lydia]

How cold is it where you live? Do you think the Wilkie is too small to cover all of the babies outside? Maybe you should brood both ducks inside so the sick one doesn't get lonely?

I agree the mama may not be able to keep the ducklings warm enough. and the ducklings really do need to be kept together, keep her warm and do you have any poultry vitamins? Waterer looks great just keep an eye on them to make sure they can't climb in.

 

[farmgirlsomeday]

I've got a heat lamp in the little coop with mama and babies now because while it's stayed above 60 in the daytime and high 40s at night for the last week, we've had a significant temp drop today.

Can someone explain poultry vitamins to me? Do the babies (ducklings and chicks) need this?

Now for some very distressing news: my sick duckling is pretty sick, and appears to be weakening. I am so sad :-(

 

[subhanalah]

I would bring the ducklings both inside and keep them very warm.can you get save-a-chick? (Both the probiotics and the electrolyte packets. Add one packet of each to one gallon of water. What you don't use, refrigerate and save for later. Change it once a day or whenever they have soiledit. I would give to at least the ducklings, and also The chicks if you can. It won't hurt anyone else to have it.
Very important: Also some brewers yeast sprinkled on their food or niacin added to their water. (For the ducks, not the chicks)

What are the symptoms exactly? Can you get a hold of some duramycin from a feed store?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've got a heat lamp in the little coop with mama and babies now because while it's stayed above 60 in the daytime and high 40s at night for the last week, we've had a significant temp drop today.

Can someone explain poultry vitamins to me? Do the babies (ducklings and chicks) need this?

Now for some very distressing news: my sick duckling is pretty sick, and appears to be weakening. I am so sad :-(

I'm sorry to hear about your little duckling, she may have gotten chilled which isn't good for them, sometimes warming then up can help get them going in the right direction but not always, and then something may have been going on before you even got her home, shipping is hard on them, I have always given my chicks and ducklings poultry vitamins the first week after hatch just to give them an extra edge in their lil lives, I use Poultry Nutri Drench, there are other ones out there too. another thing I like about poultry Nutri Drench is it can be given straight I understand Poly vi sol for infants be too especially when your dealing with one sick like your duckling, if you pick up Poly Vi Sol make sure it's the one without Iron.