Sudden Duck Deaths

[aprille218]

In the last 3 weeks I've lost 5 call ducks to an unknown cause. 4 were hatched out this February and one was hatched last year. They are all in the same large pen with 10 other call ducks and a pair of peacocks. This is a 70'x 15' covered on the ground pen with a 6'x8' attached "house". They have fresh water and a kiddie pool to swim in and have been eating 18% all breed pellet and all breed crumble along with what ever grass and bugs they find.
There really are no symptoms they just show up dead. No one is beat up or bloody anywhere.
Anyone have any ideas? All of the adult calls and peacocks were wormed early spring with Valbazen for 10 days then repeated 2 weeks later.
Aprille

 

[FireTigeris]

Do you have a vet that can do a necropsy?

That's troubling.

Could you do one yourself? (looking for obvious things)

Are they all the same pairing?

I had a set of pullets that the grils had no way to process calcium and their kidneys burned out young or egg complications happened (if they got that old)... it was the breeder that was not being careful... all from the same father.

 

[Amiga]

Can you tell us any random details about their environment? Temperatures, weather lately, changes, plants, whether they were laying that you know of . . . .

 

[FireTigeris]

Near roosting area, or far away, skinny, crop full or empty.. all at night?

 

[QuackedUp]

Oh that's terrible and very scary!

With so many, I would consult your vet.

Is there any way that one of the peacocks could have broken a neck or something like that, without leaving a mark? I had my rabbit in with my guinea pigs once, and once of my guinea pigs suddenly was paralyzed. She had been kicked by the rabbit, although there were no marks on her body. Perhaps the peacocks are territorial?

I am so sorry!

 

[FireTigeris]

Put up a game cam, especially if they are 'going off to die' in one area-

 

[QuackedUp]

Any news? How are the other ducks doing now?

 

[aprille218]

Ducks are currently holding their own now. I've added supplemental Niacin to their water but really they shouldn't be lacking it. The dead ducks are not related and were all healthy weight. The peacock are 6 years old and have been with call ducks the past 4 years. They cohabitate well. How much Niacin do ducks actually need? Do call ducks need a higher dose than others? The full size ducks I had before the calls never had any issues.
Aprille

 

[FireTigeris]

Hey I just saw last night two coons (or three) work together to try to get my birds (futile anyway) but there was some trampling (no serious injuries) before I got all the way outside.

The coop door was accidentally closed and some were in and some were out (of the predator 'proof' run) and they were all awake and panicked.

Not exactly sure what I would have done if these had been human habituated coons... I had no weapon. The hose was behind them...

 

[70%cocoa]

At about 16 weeks old your ducks shouldn't need a niacin supplement.

I agree with the others that this is a case for a vet (if you can rule out an attack or a panic). If you lose another one (I really hope not!) put it in the fridge (not freezer) till you can get to a vet for a necropsy.

Must be very worrying and upsetting to have this happen.