New Ducklings - UPDATE!

[DesertDucks]

Well she is worse - not better. Again while the other ducks enjoyed the bath/swim she was less eager (probably because she is sick). I have been monitoring her this afternoon and when I went to check on her for "last call" her nostrils were completely shut. We gave her a warm bath to loosen the material and I gently used a q-tip to loosen the material. After that she could blow bubbles from her nose but she is still only breathing from her mouth.

DH thinks maybe we should try to "suction" her nostrils to see if something is in there? But I don't know if that is a good idea, has anyone tried that?

Also read that another poster had this same issue with 5 Saxony ducklings from Metzer in February but I don't know how they turned out.

 

[chickens really]

It's worth a try.....A baby aspirator might help?...Poor baby..

Best wishes

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well she is worse - not better. Again while the other ducks enjoyed the bath/swim she was less eager (probably because she is sick). I have been monitoring her this afternoon and when I went to check on her for "last call" her nostrils were completely shut. We gave her a warm bath to loosen the material and I gently used a q-tip to loosen the material. After that she could blow bubbles from her nose but she is still only breathing from her mouth.

DH thinks maybe we should try to "suction" her nostrils to see if something is in there? But I don't know if that is a good idea, has anyone tried that?

Also read that another poster had this same issue with 5 Saxony ducklings from Metzer in February but I don't know how they turned out.

@DesertDucks How is you lil Saxony this morning? Please call Metzers and talk with them about what is going on they may be able to give you some ideas on how to help. I know Vet RX is good for respiratory trouble TSC has it I believe. What do you think caused her nares to close up?

 

[DesertDucks]

Just lost the post I made!

Anyway, after everything last night she was doing a lot better and was breathing normally with her mouth closed. This lasted until at least midnight when I went to bed. At 6 she was a little worse alternating between mouth and normal breathing. At nine she was back mouth breathing but her nostrils weren't covered over.

I have her another bath and cleaning and again she seemed better. About the bath she will not dunk her head in. She just swims and floats. I have to dip her bill in, or shower her only then does she tentatively blow a few bubbles.

Same in the brooder. She sticks the tip of her bill in to drink but won't dunk her head like the others do? Is she missing a duck instinct?

 

[Quackems]

I find that our pet Mallard ducklings behave far more instinctively and reactively than do the Saxonies. The Saxonies remind me of fuzzy stuffed animals that come to life in a storybook. The Saxony breed seems to be an extremely docile and sedentary one.

 

[DesertDucks]

This occurred between a bath around 2pm and 10pm at night.

This was this morning after the bath.

Thanks for your input everyone. She is still eating and drinking so we will keep babying her as long as we can.

 

[Miss Lydia]

This occurred between a bath around 2pm and 10pm at night.


This was this morning after the bath.

Thanks for your input everyone. She is still eating and drinking so we will keep babying her as long as we can.

is it feed?

she looks very healthy eyes are clear.

 

[DesertDucks]

I think it must be feed because I can't think of anything else it could be? Unless her nostril is malformed and it is part of her sinuses? I just don't have enough experience to judge. On one hand I feel like I could almost take a toothpick pop out the crumble and it would be ok, but I don't feel comfortable taking the chance that I would hurt it worse.

My feed store didn't have VetRX so I am going to the Vet Supply store tomorrow (they were not open today). Also will be calling Metzer for advise when they open.

Today I cleared out her nose/ solo bath time 3 times. By this evening one nostril had stayed clear and only one was clogged. She acts healthy with the exception of the "panting" and the fact that she acts like she really hates water.

I'm not going to give up but at some point she is going to have to learn to blow bubbles underwater by herself or she isn't going to make it. It is such normal duck behavior I can't believe she won't do it!

My puppy is getting her stitches out from her spay (yes its a zoo here

) and so I am planning on asking our vet for advice in the morning as well.

@Miss Lydia - Thanks for the vote of confidence on her appearance. I told myself to expect some losses and tried to toughen up but now that she has got so much attention from me I can't help but get attached!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think it must be feed because I can't think of anything else it could be? Unless her nostril is malformed and it is part of her sinuses? I just don't have enough experience to judge. On one hand I feel like I could almost take a toothpick pop out the crumble and it would be ok, but I don't feel comfortable taking the chance that I would hurt it worse.

My feed store didn't have VetRX so I am going to the Vet Supply store tomorrow (they were not open today). Also will be calling Metzer for advise when they open.

Today I cleared out her nose/ solo bath time 3 times. By this evening one nostril had stayed clear and only one was clogged. She acts healthy with the exception of the "panting" and the fact that she acts like she really hates water.

I'm not going to give up but at some point she is going to have to learn to blow bubbles underwater by herself or she isn't going to make it. It is such normal duck behavior I can't believe she won't do it!

My puppy is getting her stitches out from her spay (yes its a zoo here

) and so I am planning on asking our vet for advice in the morning as well.

@Miss Lydia - Thanks for the vote of confidence on her appearance. I told myself to expect some losses and tried to toughen up but now that she has got so much attention from me I can't help but get attached!

Try some moistened feed maybe half cup with about half tea of ACV mixed into the warm water first. make it moist enough it's like the consistency of corn bread before baking. Maybe if the feed isn't dry it won't get caked.It might clogged too but I really don't like giving dry feed to my flock I make Fermented feed for them.My babies too. She will learn as she sees the others doing the diving under water head washing. She needs special time. I was hoping @dotknott woukld come on since she has nothing but Saxony and lots of ducklings but I haven't seen her on in a while.

Hopefully Metzers can help. Honestly she doesn't look like a sick duckling. She looks alert am i reading her right? @DesertDucks

 

[Quackems]

I was just reading about your Saxony baby breathing with her mouth open. Could she be overheated? I have found that my Saxony ducklings are much more heat sensitive than those of other breeds. Subsequently they are in their own separate brooder box. They are now a month old and are turned out in a large outdoor arena for several hours a day. Since they are a heavy breed, they tend to pant more. Can you separate the ducklings into 2 different brooder boxes and put only one duckling, such as the Pekin, with your Saxony? This way you could keep the temperature slightly lower for them to avoid panting and mouth breathing.