New to ducks, lings keep dying!

[traceyj]

I've had chickens for three years and just bought ducks but I keep losing the two or three week old ducklings.
I have two wh drake, and six wh hens, I bought 8, two week old ducklings from the classifieds and three were boys three died and I ended up with two more hens. (Who are now feathered up and fitting right in thankfully)
So I bought more ducklings because I want five girls for each boy, six healthy looking two week olds came home, went into quarantine, for two weeks and now are in a cage in the enclosure with my ducks, still kept locked away from the ducks (drakes are not nice to chicks!) but they're dying off again.
They are on all natural grower, niacin added to their water, on pine wood shavings, shaded from excessive heat but not cold, often I put my foster mom duck in there at night to keep them company (she has only one leg so is bottom of the packing order and I think enjoys a chance to have some food and water away from the grown ups)
Yet again I spent the day cradling a duckling trying to get vitamin water into it for it to die. (Head flipped back like star gazing but they have niacin in their water!)

I'm at a loss, chicken illnesses I can see coming and head off with quick action but these dudes just die and it's so terribly sad!

 

[RezChamp]

Try getting rid of the pine shavings. I know it's not healthy for some critters. Pigeons and chickens actually shouldn't be around that. I use straw. It's readily avaiable, easily remewable, non allergenic(if must/mould/mildew free)and environmentally friendly as well as excellent for composting. ...especially with poop in it.
But ya, pine & cedar and stuff is not good for birds lungs according to some literature.

 

[traceyj]

Hmm, thanks. I thought it was just cedar that was toxic, I've used pine shavings for my chickens for years with no issues, it's a low dust one.
I can't do straw or hay because it doesn't decompose here, and I can't compost because I live in a forest so bears come every time I try But I will certainly consider other bedding sources if it fixes the issue. Thank you.

 

[RezChamp]

Oh ya, my ducklings are raised by mama duck. And I've found that they do better the less exposure to chickens and turkeys(dryland fowl) they have when they are tiny.

 

[Sara Ranch]

When I brought home ducklings (two different times), I started giving them water with apple cider vinegar in it. I have never added niacin to their water. Instead, I offer them scrambled eggs or fish or dark greens for the niacin.

I also had to change out their water and their food OFTEN cuz the little cuties kept pooping in their water and their food.

I choose to clean their space daily. I have used pine shaving flakes, rubber backed mats, astro turf (don't use this!), towels, and the tile floor. They don't like to be on something wet, not even wet shavings.

I kept them inside until about 6 or 7 weeks? Then started the small field trips outside.

I socialized with them daily. (Still do. Sometimes we get together for breakfast or lunch.)

I turned off the heat lamp way before it was recommended based on the ducks behavior daytime/night time.

I have turned on the heat in the sunroom at night, based on the temps of the room. I have a do-hickey thingy that tells me the humidity (high/low/current) as well as the temp (high/low/current).

I don't handle my ducks - as in pick them up, give them pets, etc unless totally necessary. The ducks just don't like to be handled. I respect that.

Before and after I have physical contact with the animals area/animals themselves, I wash my hands and forearms up to my elbows. Just a personal thing.

I wouldn't put an older duck in with them. Disease? Worms? Something older duck can handle but baby duck can't?

I don't know what is going on with your little duckies. I hope what I have shared will help you in some way.

 

[RezChamp]

Oh wow. Right in the forest. My area usta Boresl mixed forest and bog until the farmers "fixed" the bush and swamp by drainage and 'slash and burn'. I have 18 sled dogs so I don't get much bothered by bears and such.
It's humans' free roaming pets that are my main scourge.
Have you tried hardwood wood shavings?
I've used hardwood pellets and really liked them. The Home Building Center where I bought them no longer sell them tho. I guess there aint so many people using pellet stoves anymore. I live 2 hrs from the city so it ain't economical for me anymore. So even though 'slash and burn' and 'drainage' totally wrecked a huge ecosystem straw is readily available for me.

 

[traceyj]

Oh ya, my ducklings are raised by mama duck. And I've found that they do better the less exposure to chickens and turkeys(dryland fowl) they have when they are tiny.

The chickens are nearby but not touching

 

[traceyj]

When I brought home ducklings (two different times), I started giving them water with apple cider vinegar in it. I have never added niacin to their water. Instead, I offer them scrambled eggs or fish or dark greens for the niacin.

I also had to change out their water and their food OFTEN cuz the little cuties kept pooping in their water and their food.

I choose to clean their space daily. I have used pine shaving flakes, rubber backed mats, astro turf (don't use this!), towels, and the tile floor. They don't like to be on something wet, not even wet shavings.

I kept them inside until about 6 or 7 weeks? Then started the small field trips outside.

I socialized with them daily. (Still do. Sometimes we get together for breakfast or lunch.)

I turned off the heat lamp way before it was recommended based on the ducks behavior daytime/night time.

I have turned on the heat in the sunroom at night, based on the temps of the room. I have a do-hickey thingy that tells me the humidity (high/low/current) as well as the temp (high/low/current).

I don't handle my ducks - as in pick them up, give them pets, etc unless totally necessary. The ducks just don't like to be handled. I respect that.

Before and after I have physical contact with the animals area/animals themselves, I wash my hands and forearms up to my elbows. Just a personal thing.

I wouldn't put an older duck in with them. Disease? Worms? Something older duck can handle but baby duck can't?

I don't know what is going on with your little duckies. I hope what I have shared will help you in some way.

Thank you I keep them outside off heat because it's warm here 25+
The older duck has nothing wrong with her other than a badly broken badly set leg, but if you think she should be separate then I can do that they just seem so sad the two of them alone and bored. I change their bedding daily and their waterer is never empty, nor is their food.

 

[chickens really]

Possibly West Nile virus.....?

 

[traceyj]

Possibly West Nile virus.....?

Hmm. Wouldn't the other birds also get it? I have chickens and they die if you look at them funny so just the ducklings dying seems odd for a virus.
Also this has been the best year for no mosquitos I've ever had at the farm, hornets everywhere but hardly any mozzies