Unsuccessful baby duck

[janiedoe]

Welcome. I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[BeardedDuckDad]

Did you give her warm water to swim in and a heat lamp for warmth? also for the first week or so, they should have water to drink that is on the tepid side not cold. What were you feeding your duckling? and supplements?

So very sorry you lost her

 

[BeardedDuckDad]

We were feeding her this but no supplements….which ones should’ve we been using

 

[Miss Lydia]

The organic crumbles is good food but if we feed them anything besides their crumbles they need grit and when tiny chick grit is put in a small container next to their feed. Not saying this is what caused her to die it's just something not everyone knows about when just starting with ducklings, it's also a good idea to make sure they have enough niacin for strong legs most of us use Nutritional yeast sprinkled over their feed 1 Tablespoon to each cup of feed we give them this should be done daily until at least 10-12 weeks old.
I am very sorry this happened and your daughter is heartbroken I do hope you all will try again Many places have ducklings for sale right now and if you decide to try again to raise more please consider at least 3 that way if something happens again and you lose one the one left will still have a buddy. We have a lot of good information here on BYC for all stages of growth and many other things so come back and ask and we'll point you in the right direction.
Most of us have lost ducklings and on up to old age and it is very hard to lose one. We understand

 

[BeardedDuckDad]

The organic crumbles is good food but if we feed them anything besides their crumbles they need grit and when tiny chick grit is put in a small container next to their feed. Not saying this is what caused her to die it's just something not everyone knows about when just starting with ducklings, it's also a good idea to make sure they have enough niacin for strong legs most of us use Nutritional yeast sprinkled over their feed 1 Tablespoon to each cup of feed we give them this should be done daily until at least 10-12 weeks old.
I am very sorry this happened and your daughter is heartbroken I do hope you all will try again Many places have ducklings for sale right now and if you decide to try again to raise more please consider at least 3 that way if something happens again and you lose one the one left will still have a buddy. We have a lot of good information here on BYC for all stages of growth and many other things so come back and ask and we'll point you in the right direction.
Most of us have lost ducklings and on up to old age and it is very hard to lose one. We understand

Thank you…so your saying we should feed them grit along with the crumbles and niacin? How much feed a day should they consume…she would’ve been 3 weeks old tomorrow

 

[Miss Lydia]

When they are just starting out until around 6 weeks they should have feed 24/7 along with water never give feed without water. The chick grit is only put into a small container beside the feed bowl and they instinctively know when to use it. Once they reach 6 weeks they can go overnight without feed and water. putting food and water over night inside a coop means a big mess it's best not to. The Nutritional yeast is given over the feed becasue even when it says on the bag of feed there is enough niacin for waterfowl it just pays to make sure they have enough so we supplement. I made my own waterer for my ducklings and many on here have, these help keep them from climbing inside the container and also keep them from wasting it and they can still dunk their heads to clean their nares and eyes which is very important. I have many different sizes of homemade wateres so as they grow their waterer does too once they are outside full time they graduate to buckets.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/ducks.30/

 

[BeardedDuckDad]

Did you give her warm water to swim in and a heat lamp for warmth? also for the first week or so, they should have water to drink that is on the tepid side not cold. What were you feeding your duckling? and supplements?

So very sorry you lost her

 

[BeardedDuckDad]

When they are just starting out until around 6 weeks they should have feed 24/7 along with water never give feed without water. The chick grit is only put into a small container beside the feed bowl and they instinctively know when to use it. Once they reach 6 weeks they can go overnight without feed and water. putting food and water over night inside a coop means a big mess it's best not to. The Nutritional yeast is given over the feed becasue even when it says on the bag of feed there is enough niacin for waterfowl it just pays to make sure they have enough so we supplement. I made my own waterer for my ducklings and many on here have, these help keep them from climbing inside the container and also keep them from wasting it and they can still dunk their heads to clean their nares and eyes which is very important. I have many different sizes of homemade wateres so as they grow their waterer does too once they are outside full time they graduate to buckets.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/ducks.30/

Thank you so much for the information I wish we talked to you before….we received little information from tractor supply and this is our first time.How would you suggest we set up the brooder box?

 

[sourland]

By any chance was the water cold, and did she become soaked? Ducklings without a mother can sometimes become waterlogged and hypothermic. I am so very sorry for your loss.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!! I'm so sorry about your daughter's duckling.

They have such cute personalities and it's hard to lose them for seeming to be no reason. I too hope you'll try again. There is so much information here that will help you, plus awesome folks that will be glad to help.