Slowly died duckling

[RexApium]

Everything was fine all day then my boyfriend came home from work at 6:00 pm checked on our babies and one duckling was being picked on. Took him out, he was pretty lame and floppy but let us hold him and love him. Separated him and put him in a box and kept him close to us. Time for bed he was rolling over on his back. Decided to put him in bed with me and he laid on my chest. He flopped a bit shook and then finally died. He felt warm. No signs of injury, he didn’t even poop when he died. Had clean water and food. Just got him Sunday and this isn’t my first round with ducklings so I’m really uncertain what went wrong here. Is there a disease or just a weak system? I got him and one more from TS on Sunday and got 2 more from a different TS yesterday and this happened. I’m not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It can just happen, shipping is very hard on them the little one could have been injured or might have been something wrong from before hatch. They just box em up an ship from hatcheries not really a health check. Failure to thrive. As long as the others are still active eating and playing I wouldn’t worry. You can add some poultry Nutri drench to their water for extra boost. And if feeding chick starter they will need some extra niacin which can be Nutritional yeast or liquid b complex daily for at least their first 10 weeks. NY is 1 Tab over each cup of feed they get. The Liquid BComplex is 1 ml over a small amount of feed till they eat it all so they get a full dose. I’m sorry you lost the little one.

 

[DiYMama540]

Hate to hear that so sorry! Happens to the best of us though...
Last season I bought hatchery TSC ducklings, and like you, did everything right, but still lost one.

You could check around for local ducklings or hatching eggs! This year I hatched my own, and haven't had any issues at all!

 

[RexApium]

It can just happen, shipping is very hard on them the little one could have been injured or might have been something wrong from before hatch. They just box em up an ship from hatcheries not really a health check. Failure to thrive. As long as the others are still active eating and playing I wouldn’t worry. You can add some poultry Nutri drench to their water for extra boost. And if feeding chick starter they will need some extra niacin which can be Nutritional yeast or liquid b complex daily for at least their first 10 weeks. NY is 1 Tab over each cup of feed they get. The Liquid BComplex is 1 ml over a small amount of feed till they eat it all so they get a full dose. I’m sorry you lost the little one.

Thank you I appreciate the info and will get them some extra niacin!

 

[RexApium]

Hate to hear that so sorry! Happens to the best of us though...
Last season I bought hatchery TSC ducklings, and like you, did everything right, but still lost one.

You could check around for local ducklings or hatching eggs! This year I hatched my own, and haven't had any issues at all!

Thank you, I’m hoping to do the same eventually. Sucks when it happens and you just don’t know how or why.

 

[DiYMama540]

I know what you mean...don't beat yourself up too much about it though, sounds like you're doing a great job!

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry for your loss!

Shipping is hard on baby birds of all kinds, its not your fault.