Sick duckling

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Roger98

Roger98

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Mar 16, 2018
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One of my two new ducklings is making a popping, gurgling sound when it breaths/peeps. I've seen in another thread it could be an infection and I'm wondering if there is antibiotics I can get at tractor supply or another store without having to go to a vet?
 
Does your duckling have access to water that's deep enough to blow out its nares (nostrils)? Clogged nares can cause respiratory issues in ducks. A small dish, like a plastic cottage cheese/sour cream/onion dip-type container with a hole cut from the top that's big enough for the duckling to dip its head but not get into the container may help.

@WVduckchick @Amiga @Miss Lydia
 
Roger98 said:
One of my two new ducklings is making a popping, gurgling sound when it breaths/peeps. I've seen in another thread it could be an infection and I'm wondering if there is antibiotics I can get at tractor supply or another store without having to go to a vet?
Click to expand...
Can you take a video, upload to YouTube or Vimeo, then copy/paste the link here? It would also help if you could answer all of the other questions. That clicking/popping/gurgling could be the sign of a respiratory infection.

I guess if I were in your shoes I would start by trying to rule out the bedding causing it. And to do that I would use towels in my brooder, not shavings or straw. I would also make sure that their water source was deep enough as said above.

You asked about antibiotics at Tractor Supply. They should have two, one is injectable Tylan 50, which needs to be given orally 3-4 times a day, the other is injectable oxytetracycline, but I don't know if that can be given orally. Neither of those are something I would use If I suspected a respiratory infection, so a vet might be you best choice.
 
20190310_141253.jpg

This is the best picture I have right now, I'm at work and I can't take a picture or a video until I get home. The lighter one is the one making the weird sounds when it breaths. I've been cleaning the bedding every day to keep it dry. But I can put a towel in instead of the shavings. I also didn't know they needed a deeper water dish, I can add one in when I get home. I did not hatch these ducklings, they were bought from tractor supply.
None of things things were told to my grandparents when they bought them. I'm not suprised. I had to do all the research after. I never realized how different they're needs are compared to chickens.
 
Roger98 said:
View attachment 1697255
This is the best picture I have right now, I'm at work and I can't take a picture or a video until I get home. The lighter one is the one making the weird sounds when it breaths. I've been cleaning the bedding every day to keep it dry. But I can put a towel in instead of the shavings. I also didn't know they needed a deeper water dish, I can add one in when I get home. I did not hatch these ducklings, they were bought from tractor supply.
None of things things were told to my grandparents when they bought them. I'm not suprised. I had to do all the research after. I never realized how different they're needs are compared to chickens.
Click to expand...
Many people use shavings for bedding and waterers like the one you're using and never have any issues. I don't use shavings 'cause I'm paranoid about them eating them, so I use towels. In the last 15 years I have probably hatched several thousand ducklings and all were raised using those waterers, so they work fine for me. :D

Since its Sunday, and vets aren't open, start by changing the waterer and the bedding and see if that helps. Check your cardboard for signs of mold, because this too could cause what you're seeing. I sometimes use cardboard boxes but found that they get moldy very quickly, so now when I use them I place a plastic trash bag under the towel and this seems to help.
 
Last edited:
Roger98 said:
20190310_160033-jpg.1697357

I moved them into a plastic tub and put the water into a deeper dish to see if this would change anything. They already learned how to drink out of it. I also got rid of the shavings and put a thick layer of paper towel down
Click to expand...
That looks great! Just make sure it's not too hot in there.
 

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