Sick ducklings. Need advice.

[sahmom4cj]

I have 12 Muscovy ducks that are 1 week old. They've been kept inside under a heat lamp with access to food and to clean water, with the occasional exception when they poop in the waterer and drink it before I notice and change it. This morning I noticed 3 of them breathing very rapidly. One of the ones breathing rapidly also had some fluid in its nostrils. I read up a little on it but couldn't find anything definite. They are acting mostly normal otherwise but do seem a little lethargic. I also noticed a little bit of blood on their flooring but couldn't tell where it came from. I don't know what it could be or what I should do about it. I'm also worried because I read some illnesses can be spread to humans. I live in a very warm climate (85-90 during the day and low 70s at night) and would like to move them outside. Is it too soon to move them? They would be in a caged area similar to a chicken coop with a wooden "nesting box" they could get in, and they would have the heat lamp on them too. If anyone could answer these questions I would appreciate it.

 

[Orca5094]

They might just be getting too hot? Are they able to get away from the heat lamp into a cooler area if they need to? I have Cayugas and all of them started panting and getting too hot with a heat lamp when only a week or two old. It just really depends on what the ambient temperature is wherever they are kept. Sounds like it is already pretty warm where you are, so the heat lamp might be too much. I think they probably still need it at night, but make sure they have an area to get away from the heat of the lamp if they need to. You can also try raising the heat lamp higher above their brooder so it doesn't get quite so warm.

I think they'd be ok outside in a secure place if they still had the heat lamp on one side of the cage. Just make sure there are no drafts as well. You live in a much warmer area that alot of people, so I really do think they'd be ok. I moved my ducklings out into my duck house when the youngest was 1 week old (oldest was 2 weeks) and they have all done fine. It's a very secure building with no drafts.

Not sure about the blood, did you check everyone's feet? Maybe one of them got a little cut somewhere.

Also, do they have water in there deep enough to dunk their heads and clear out their nares? That's another big problem with ducklings that can cause labored breathing if the nares get plugged up with food and they can't clear them out. Just make sure the opening to the water is just big enough to get their heads in, but not their whole bodies so they get themselves wet. Old plastic food containers with an appropriately sized hole cut into the lid work great for this.