Sudden death in Ducks? More Dead!

[duckma]

Whaaa! So sad! So sorry. Mine are dropping like flies too... chicks and ducklings are about 6 days old, and just had 1 duckling death, 1 chick death today, and 1 more duckling with beginnings of neck paralysis it looks like. Can't take it anymore! Will be watching this thread for clues.
Thanks!

 

[Isaac 0]

Mine are dropping like flies too... chicks and ducklings are about 6 days old, and just had 1 duckling death, 1 chick death today, and 1 more duckling with beginnings of neck paralysis it looks like. Can't take it anymore! Will be watching this thread for clues.
Thanks!

Sorry for your losses, this thread is actually eleven years old. If you start your own thread and give us some more info about your setup, birds, and management practices we'd be glad to help you there.

 

[Btcatz]

We have been fighting young duck death syndrome for a few years now. We haven't got a clue and the Internet apparently doesn't either. From two weeks old on, they're fine and a few hours later, they're dead. 100% fatality rate last year. We hatch our own, they're in a clean brooding tub, fed game bird starter that has good niacin content, clean water twice a day, ... This year, its repeating again. Whatever it is, it is quick and deadly. They're fine, playing and running around and then within just a few hours, they're gone. Any ideas would be welcome. The other duck people we know don't have a clue.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What breed are your ducks? Very sorry to hear this and sorry for your loss.
maybe @Pyxis would be able to help.

 

[Pyxis]

I would honestly send one out for necropsy. It's the only way to get the bottom of this 100%.

 

[Btcatz]

What breed are your ducks?

Pekins, Rouens, Khaki Campbells, Silver Appleyards, ... It doesn't seem to matter.

 

[Btcatz]

We have ordered more ducks that will arrive soon. We have totally sterilized everything including the heat lamps and heaters. We purchased all new and fresh feed and saturated it with UV light and heated to 165 degrees for 30 minutes. If it is caused by some disease, they will have brought it with them from the hatchery.

The last batch of hatchings of Khaki Campbells we only lost 50% which was a huge improvement. These were eggs from our adult birds that were brooded by our broody chicken hen. Once hatched, they were brought indoors to our brooder as soon as they were able to walk around.