Tractor Supply duck health??

[Dbinn]

3 years ago I bought 4 ducks from Tractor Supply. 2 Pekins and 2 Cayugas. Both Pekins passed away after 1 year. 1 turned out to be a jumbo Pekin and had major leg infection and went septic. The other got an internal infection and passed. Last week one of the Cayugas got the same type of internal infection the female Pekin had and she passed. I have 1 cayuga left. (I have 3 other female ducks that I bought from a breeder). Is there something wrong with Tractor Supply ducks that they get sick and die? I feel like I take good care of my animals. They are in a clean environment (clean as they can be for ducks). I have gotten lots of advice from other duck owners. I just don’t understand. I’ve spent way more money than I care to admit on these ducks trying everything to keep them alive.
It literally breaks my heart. Anyone else have issues with Tractor Supply ducks?? (I learned my lesson and will never purchase from them again).

 

[nuthatched]

Sounds more like a care and environment issue than anything else.
How were caring for them? Diet?
Did you attempt to treat their issues?

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I believe Hoover’s supplies Tractor supply. If you consider how many stores they have, that is a lot of ducklings. It seems to me to produce that many quality would take some sort of hit.

 

[nuthatched]

I believe Hoover’s supplies Tractor supply. If you consider how many stores they have, that is a lot of ducklings. It seems to me to produce that many quality would take some sort of hit.

Hoovers has a general contract but if there's a closer hatchery, the individual store may also order from them. Mine gets chicks from hoovers and privett.

 

[Dbinn]

Sounds more like a care and environment issue than anything else.
How were caring for them? Diet?
Did you attempt to treat their issues?

They get Healthy Harvest layer feed mixed with Kalmbach duck feed (so they can get enough protein and niacin). They have almost 2 acres fenced in to roam during the day that’s all grass. Of course they make mud spots in it when it rains. I live in the Midwest so in the summertime they have 2 kiddie pools that get cleaned daily when it’s hot and every other day when it’s not so hot.
In the winter they get a little rubber tub of water to swim in when the weather is nice enough. They have a small barn with a concrete floor. I put down First Saturday Lime, pine pellets, then a thick layer of pine chips. Each morning I pick up the poopy pine chips and dump them in our waste pile (it is outside of the fenced area). They have 2-5 gallon buckets that my husband used a hole saw and drilled 3 holes in so they can drink water at night but not swim in it. They get food morning and night. So I know their food is always fresh. I have to feed them when they are locked up because I have goats and I can not have my goats getting into their food. They get meal worms for treats. They also love frozen peas and strawberries. Of course they eat bugs, worms and whatever else they find in the grass.

 

[Dbinn]

They get Healthy Harvest layer feed mixed with Kalmbach duck feed (so they can get enough protein and niacin). They have almost 2 acres fenced in to roam during the day that’s all grass. Of course they make mud spots in it when it rains. I live in the Midwest so in the summertime they have 2 kiddie pools that get cleaned daily when it’s hot and every other day when it’s not so hot.
In the winter they get a little rubber tub of water to swim in when the weather is nice enough. They have a small barn with a concrete floor. I put down First Saturday Lime, pine pellets, then a thick layer of pine chips. Each morning I pick up the poopy pine chips and dump them in our waste pile (it is outside of the fenced area). They have 2-5 gallon buckets that my husband used a hole saw and drilled 3 holes in so they can drink water at night but not swim in it. They get food morning and night. So I know their food is always fresh. I have to feed them when they are locked up because I have goats and I can not have my goats getting into their food. They get meal worms for treats. They also love frozen peas and strawberries. Of course they eat bugs, worms and whatever else they find in the grass.

Also I did take them to the vet. She gave us medication. All 3 ducks were treated. I spent A LOT of time and money on them.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

If it was a genetic disease you could blame it on a supplier, but infections over a year later have absolutely nothing to do with the supplier. I have had many birds both ducks and chickens from tractor supply zero health issues. Jumbo Pekins regardless of the breeder are prone to health issues. They are the duck equivalent of broiler chickens. They were never meant to live long just grow big fast enough to make a good meat duck in time for butchering. The fact that two of your ducks including the Cayuga had the same type of infection over a year after purchase means they caught whatever they were dealing with from something on your property. Now what exactly that is you would have to have a complete necropsy done. On another note if it was a reproductive infection. I personally have found ducks do much better not on a layer feed. Layer feed was originally designed for egg production farms to increase egg production. I feed 20% protein flock raiser with oyster shell on the side no health issues no egg issues. Also did you contact healthy harvest to see what the niacin content was for their feed? Since it is designed for chickens it most likely does not have enough niacin for a duck. Mixing in Kalmbach duck feed would not give them enough niacin. In fact if that brand does not have enough niacin and you cut the kalmbach feed with the other brand you reduced the amount of niacin your ducks were receiving to below the recommended values. You have jumbo Pekins that require even more than the minimum recommendation. Niacin deficiency can cause a whole host of issues not just leg issues... it can kill them. Ducklings that do not received the correct amount when growing their organs actually do not form properly which in turn causes internal problems and immune system issues.

 

[Dbinn]

If it was a genetic disease you could blame it on a supplier, but infections over a year later have absolutely nothing to do with the supplier. I have had many birds both ducks and chickens from tractor supply zero health issues. Jumbo Pekins regardless of the breeder are prone to health issues. They are the duck equivalent of broiler chickens. They were never meant to live long just grow big fast enough to make a good meat duck in time for butchering. The fact that two of your ducks including the Cayuga had the same type of infection over a year after purchase means they caught whatever they were dealing with from something on your property. Now what exactly that is you would have to have a complete necropsy done. On another note if it was a reproductive infection. I personally have found ducks do much better not on a layer feed. Layer feed was originally designed for egg production farms to increase egg production. I feed 20% protein flock raiser with oyster shell on the side no health issues no egg issues. Also did you contact healthy harvest to see what the niacin content was for their feed? Since it is designed for chickens it most likely does not have enough niacin for a duck. Mixing in Kalmbach duck feed would not give them enough niacin. In fact if that brand does not have enough niacin and you cut the kalmbach feed with the other brand you reduced the amount of niacin your ducks were receiving to below the recommended values. You have jumbo Pekins that require even more than the minimum recommendation. Niacin deficiency can cause a whole host of issues not just leg issues... it can kill them. Ducklings that do not received the correct amount when growing their organs actually do not form properly which in turn causes internal problems and immune system issues.

Can you please tell me what brand and feed you use? The feeds I’m using was recommended to me by someone that has had ducks for a long time. The girls did have a reproductive infection. I do not have any drakes. They did get extra niacin supplement when they were little. The niacin content is listed on the feed bag, I would have to look to see what it is. (I didn’t know he was a jumbo Pekin when I got him. The guy at Tractor Supply said they were both Pekins). I already feel terrible about everything that has happened. I will take any help anyone can give me for my 4 remaining ducks. I am trying so hard to do the best I can for them. There’s so much information out there about what to feed and what not to feed and so many different opinions. I will do whatever I need to so the 4 girls I have left can live healthy long lives

 

[Miss Lydia]

Check out Purina Flock Raiser and just put oyster shell on the side not in their feed. There are other brands that make an All Flock also.

Very sorry for your losses.

 

[Luv Ducks]

3 years ago I bought 4 ducks from Tractor Supply. 2 Pekins and 2 Cayugas. Both Pekins passed away after 1 year. 1 turned out to be a jumbo Pekin and had major leg infection and went septic. The other got an internal infection and passed. Last week one of the Cayugas got the same type of internal infection the female Pekin had and she passed. I have 1 cayuga left. (I have 3 other female ducks that I bought from a breeder). Is there something wrong with Tractor Supply ducks that they get sick and die? I feel like I take good care of my animals. They are in a clean environment (clean as they can be for ducks). I have gotten lots of advice from other duck owners. I just don’t understand. I’ve spent way more money than I care to admit on these ducks trying everything to keep them alive.
It literally breaks my heart. Anyone else have issues with Tractor Supply ducks?? (I learned my lesson and will never purchase from them again).

I bought 2 Rouen ducks this past spring when they were selling them for a buck a duck because Easter was over. They grew up to be fine drakes and were rehomed. They had no issues but our Tractor Supply seems to get a lot of drakes. They get them from Hoover's Hatchery and I don't know if they just send them their drakes more than Hens to get rid of them or just how it turns out sometimes. Sorry to hear about your ducks.