Sneezing or Clearing Nares?

[amandanp]

Hello, I am new to ducks and new to this site. I got 6 Buff ducklings last thursday 1/12/23 that were hatched on 1/9/23. I have noticed most of them seem to be sneezing when they dunk their heads in the water and for a short time afterwards when they return under the heat lamp and begin preening. After reading some threads, I have decided that we are going to switch their bedding. Right now I have a bag of wood shavings (the types of wood isn't specified) and it seems to be pretty dusty. I keep it as clean as I can and add new dry bedding when they soak the bedding around the waterers. I have also added a tupperware dish with holes cut into the lid for dunking their entire heads. They have a poultry waterer as well. I noticed the last two days is when the sneezing started. Some of them are blowing bubbles in the water dishes, especially right after I bring in new water but not for long after they leave the waterers. They are all eating and up and moving just fine. I'm not seeing any discharge at all from anyone. I have checked in the nostrils as best as I can and don't see any obvious obstructions. Is this them learning how to blow bubbles and part of the self cleaning/preening routine or is there something else I should worry about? I am doing everything I can to keep them warm. I wasn't expecting them to be hatched until March so we are trying to keep everything warm during the remainder of the winter. Their brooder is inside our barn (slightly insulated but still cold), they have their heat lamp and I am running a space heater in their house to take the chill off the air. I have two thermometers in their brooder to help watch the heat. They are in a big rubbermaid tub with plenty of space to get out of the heat. I also have bales of straw up against the outside walls of the rubbermaid tub. I have been keeping them as close to 90 degrees as I can give or take a few degrees. Please advise. I don't want to lose any of them.

Link to video of the sneezing:
https://clipchamp.com/watch/XKaICO7Z1JB

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Hello, I am new to ducks and new to this site. I got 6 Buff ducklings last thursday 1/12/23 that were hatched on 1/9/23. I have noticed most of them seem to be sneezing when they dunk their heads in the water and for a short time afterwards when they return under the heat lamp and begin preening. After reading some threads, I have decided that we are going to switch their bedding. Right now I have a bag of wood shavings (the types of wood isn't specified) and it seems to be pretty dusty. I keep it as clean as I can and add new dry bedding when they soak the bedding around the waterers. I have also added a tupperware dish with holes cut into the lid for dunking their entire heads. They have a poultry waterer as well. I noticed the last two days is when the sneezing started. Some of them are blowing bubbles in the water dishes, especially right after I bring in new water but not for long after they leave the waterers. They are all eating and up and moving just fine. I'm not seeing any discharge at all from anyone. I have checked in the nostrils as best as I can and don't see any obvious obstructions. Is this them learning how to blow bubbles and part of the self cleaning/preening routine or is there something else I should worry about? I am doing everything I can to keep them warm. I wasn't expecting them to be hatched until March so we are trying to keep everything warm during the remainder of the winter. Their brooder is inside our barn (slightly insulated but still cold), they have their heat lamp and I am running a space heater in their house to take the chill off the air. I have two thermometers in their brooder to help watch the heat. They are in a big rubbermaid tub with plenty of space to get out of the heat. I also have bales of straw up against the outside walls of the rubbermaid tub. I have been keeping them as close to 90 degrees as I can give or take a few degrees. Please advise. I don't want to lose any of them.

Link to video of the sneezing:
https://clipchamp.com/watch/XKaICO7Z1JB

Hi
Sneezing and blowing bubbles is normal while drinking
I got scared my first batch too
But I did find the shavings got stuck in one of my little guys nose for 5 days he tried to get it out
So now I use puppy pads till about 2 weeks or when they start to chew st them
Then I use shavings

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I would add the holes should be deep enough to dunk their heads to clear the eyes and nares
I see you hsvd a container with holes cut
Can they fit their heads in ? Is it deep enough to cover their heads ?
I use butter container

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think they look like they are doing great! I see only normal behavior and being that active says they are thriving to me.

They grow amazingly fast so be ready for them to need deeper water and more space quickly.

 

[amandanp]

Hi
Sneezing and blowing bubbles is normal while drinking
I got scared my first batch too
But I did find the shavings got stuck in one of my little guys nose for 5 days he tried to get it out
So now I use puppy pads till about 2 weeks or when they start to chew st them
Then I use shavings

Thank you for your reply. I don’t see anything stuck. Is it normal for them to continue to do it while they are preening after dunking/playing in water?

 

[amandanp]

I would add the holes should be deep enough to dunk their heads to clear the eyes and nares
I see you hsvd a container with holes cut
Can they fit their heads in ? Is it deep enough to cover their heads ?
I use butter container

It is a deep Tupperware container, I just dug it down in the bedding a bit. And they can stick their heads in there well. I tried taping the edges to make sure they don’t get cut but the tape I coming off in the water. And they can get their heads all the way in.

 

[amandanp]

I think they look like they are doing great! I see only normal behavior and being that active says they are thriving to me.

They grow amazingly fast so be ready for them to need deeper water and more space quickly.

They seem happy all the time. They get excited and vocal when I come in to check on them and they all run up to the side of the tote.

Any suggestions on what to use for sizing up when they out grow this tote? I would say it’s probably 4’ long by 2’ wide. The weather won’t be nice enough for them to be outside for a while. I have an indoor coop in my barn that we are going to be insulating better. Would you suggest letting them have half of the coop?

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

It is a deep Tupperware container, I just dug it down in the bedding a bit. And they can stick their heads in there well. I tried taping the edges to make sure they don’t get cut but the tape I coming off in the water. And they can get their heads all the way in.

Okay then I wouldn’t worry
Sneezing and bubbles are common with little ones

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Thank you for your reply. I don’t see anything stuck. Is it normal for them to continue to do it while they are preening after dunking/playing in water?

Yes sometimes they do
If you can see through the Nare then all is okay
I even switched feed twice and used game meat cloth to strain the feed thinking it was that lol
I was like you ( worrying like a crazy mom ) mine are all fine and over a year old
Only one got a piece of the shaving stuck and baths , deep water and avc in the water along with his nares growing it finally came out
So after that I just wait to use shavings ( personal choice )

 

[21hens-incharge]

They seem happy all the time. They get excited and vocal when I come in to check on them and they all run up to the side of the tote.

Any suggestions on what to use for sizing up when they out grow this tote? I would say it’s probably 4’ long by 2’ wide. The weather won’t be nice enough for them to be outside for a while. I have an indoor coop in my barn that we are going to be insulating better. Would you suggest letting them have half of the coop?

Ducklings are such great fun! It's amazing how reactive they can be to our presence.

My own brooder is 2'x4' and yes I started a group of ducks in it as well.

I would say that as long as the section of the coop you give them has no area they could become trapped behind or in that would be a great option. Their need for added heat will decrease rapidly too so having a warming area and plenty of area away from the heat is great for them.

Totally off topic but great information...You may already know but sharing in case you don't or for future readers.
Ducklings need more niacin than chick starter has for proper growth and to prevent lameness. A super easy way to prevent issues is to add nutritional yeast to their feed. The link below has really good information on it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nutritional-yeast-vs-brewers-yeast.1393856/