Show off your house ducks!

[Skink]

Wait, you are using a nipple waterer for ducks? Do you have a deep cup type water access for them at all? If not, then that is the issue... they have to be able to submerge their bills and heads to clean out their nares and eyes to stay healthy... otherwise their nares get clogged up and they can't breath... try giving her a warm bath and see if she will blow her nares out... if it looks like she is sneezing into the water, then she is working on clearing it out...

I am using a nipple waterer, but I'm aware ducks need to be able to duck their heads under, so she gets access to a water dish throughout the day on and off. It isn't constant since that just leads to a giant mess! Her nares look clean. It is worth noting I've got two other ducklings receiving the same care and they're not showing any similar symptoms.

 

[Julie Birb]

I love our little girl Olive, and of course she's already got me badly worried. She is sick! Today she developed respiratory distress of some sort. Labored breathing, wheezing, sometimes sneezing and open beak breathing. She is still running around and acting normal otherwise, and luckily there is no discharge gumming her up, but the noise is very obvious if she is being held. I'm glad that she doesn't seem critical but knowing birds' penchants for dropping dead off their perches with no prior symptoms, I am not comforted. She is going to the vet first thing tomorrow to get the exact cause identified and to get her on proper treatment.

I have been very diligent with my cleanliness in the brooder (I am by it my every waking hour no exaggeration, so I catch every mess fast) and making sure she is not away from the heat lamp for too long. They're on clean, dry pine chips from a fresh bag, using a waterer with a horizontal nipple to prevent them from even dampening their fluff very much. I want to say this isn't because of unclean, wet, cold conditions as a result, so it is unlikely to be brooder pneumonia. It still could be, though, and even ruling that out doesn't leave very good options. Aspiration pneumonia is a big worry of mine, possible aspergillosis from the feed is another. Beyond this I've lost three birds this month, all beloved pet chickens, all very suddenly. One just passed today and we're worried it might have been marek's, we have some time to wait on autopsy. Not all of my flock is vaccinated so that's a massive worry. Now poor sweet Olive is sick.. I just can't catch a break this spring it seems.

Anyway, happier things to go with the sad! Here's some cute vines and photos of Olive!

https://vine.co/v/iFgZX6ajEH0
https://vine.co/v/iF6Qi0LPbMH
https://vine.co/v/iFhEVh9B56V

Very very sweet little Olive. I love this child. Her webs. So. CUTE. I hope you can get her some relief and I am so sorry for your other losses.

 

[NewMotherDuck7]

They're growing so fast!

 

[tracyjg]

Your not alone . We have a lot of issues two. Sickness egg death ect I know what you mean. Good luck

 

[Skink]

Very very sweet little Olive. I love this child. Her webs. So. CUTE. I hope you can get her some relief and I am so sorry for your other losses.

Your not alone . We have a lot of issues two. Sickness egg death ect I know what you mean. Good luck

I'm very sorry to hear about your troubles, I hope the stress lets up for you soon This spring seems to just have it out for the birds.


Olive's lungs sounded clear to the vet, but they could see the labored breathing and didn't doubt that she had wheezing fits. She's now on an antibiotic (and an antifungal to prevent a form of mouth thrush from said antibiotic) and has proven to be the easiest to dose animal ever because she loves her medicine. Hold the plunger out and she rushes it to gobble it up! I'm glad, I really don't like damaging relationships by prying a bird's mouth open.

We also got our necropsy results for the deceased chicken and it wasn't marek's, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my body. Which it has,very literally. I'd been stressing so much over these birds, having nightmares and forgetting to eat, and fussing over the new baby duckling that I lost 8lbs in the last week. I don't believe in caring too much but if ever there was something to make me almost wish I cared less it is the uncertainty and helplessness that sometimes comes with animal husbandry! It is nice to know Olive and my other birds will be fine, and she'll grow in to perfect hugging size soon enough.

I am celebrating most of my chickens' birthdays this weekend, so Olive will benefit in the way of getting to try mealworms and watermelon for the first time. Do ducks like mealworms as much as chickens...? I have a feeling she'll like the melon more.

 

[AxolotlLove]

Here is Phoebe! She hatched 3 days ago! She's got a crest too. She is a fawn and white runner, but she's only got fawn coloring on her face in stripes. How interesting.... I also got a sweet black runner with a white belly!!! She looks like a PENGUIN! Her name is Charlotte (I call her Char)

I can't get any pics of Char, she is quite fast!

 

[AxolotlLove]

On the other hand, MoonMoon and Harmony got a field trip outside to the garden...

 

[Ravynscroft]

I'm very sorry to hear about your troubles, I hope the stress lets up for you soon This spring seems to just have it out for the birds.


Olive's lungs sounded clear to the vet, but they could see the labored breathing and didn't doubt that she had wheezing fits. She's now on an antibiotic (and an antifungal to prevent a form of mouth thrush from said antibiotic) and has proven to be the easiest to dose animal ever because she loves her medicine. Hold the plunger out and she rushes it to gobble it up! I'm glad, I really don't like damaging relationships by prying a bird's mouth open.

We also got our necropsy results for the deceased chicken and it wasn't marek's, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my body. Which it has,very literally. I'd been stressing so much over these birds, having nightmares and forgetting to eat, and fussing over the new baby duckling that I lost 8lbs in the last week. I don't believe in caring too much but if ever there was something to make me almost wish I cared less it is the uncertainty and helplessness that sometimes comes with animal husbandry! It is nice to know Olive and my other birds will be fine, and she'll grow in to perfect hugging size soon enough.

I am celebrating most of my chickens' birthdays this weekend, so Olive will benefit in the way of getting to try mealworms and watermelon for the first time. Do ducks like mealworms as much as chickens...? I have a feeling she'll like the melon more.

So glad Olive is ok! I was just making sure on the water access, it has been the reason for many ducklings having issues breathing and swallowing...

Ducks usually do like melon and mealworms, they also love peas! Frozen peas thawed out is a great ducky treat... it may or may not take a bit to get them to try it though... sometimes ducks are finincky about trying new things, lol...

 

[Skink]

So glad Olive is ok! I was just making sure on the water access, it has been the reason for many ducklings having issues breathing and swallowing...

Ducks usually do like melon and mealworms, they also love peas! Frozen peas thawed out is a great ducky treat... it may or may not take a bit to get them to try it though... sometimes ducks are finincky about trying new things, lol...

Nah nah, I understand! I apologize if I came off short. I promise I did not mean my response rudely! Sadly they are still too small for mealworms yet it seems, they did their best but couldn't nibble up more than the flakes. Watermelon was a massive hit but I'm regretting it now. It seems Olive's medicines have given her a case of the runs... feeding her a very watery treat is unlikely to help with that haha!

I bet they will get more picky about new stuff once they get a little older, but I've got a trick. I've been presenting all new stuff on the same plate. Started with something I knew would win them over (chopped scrambled eggs) and they get all excited to see it coming ever since! I could probably serve up a shoelace on this and they'd give it their best shot.

Does anyone have a suggestion for what probiotics to use for ducks? I'm trying to research but it is all buried under chickens, chickens, chickens.

 

[BantyChooks]

Hi everyone! I'm going to be a new duck owner (hopefully) pretty soon, but unfortunately they won't be house ducks for long due to an over-curious dog.

I figured I'd join anyways and see if I could pick up some more tips from y'all..... Thanks everyone for all the info here I have already read!
-Banti