**Update 3/2/11**Last sad update - Help help help quickly

[azhenhouse]

We put a mirror in with her, along with one of those little Easter chick toys. The kind that chirp when you put it on the palm of your hand. Her favorite is a stuffed animal duck, piggy bank. She climbs all over it, and snuggles underneath the bill. She keeps trying to get under the wings but they are not big enough. She talks to it but it just won't talk back.

We decided to name her Angel, cause that's what she is, an angel.

 

[desertdarlene]

Sorry to hear about your two ducklings. It sounds like this little one is going to be fine. What gets me is that the postal people see that there's live animals sitting there for a long time and don't try to make sure they're going to be OK until they can get the delivery to your town. I know that's not really their problem, but if I saw a box of ducklings chirping away and I knew it was going to sit there for two days, I would take them home and warm them up.

But, maybe they can't because they can't touch other people's mail according to the law.

 

[azhenhouse]

Quote:
I know what you mean. It snowed this morning, so about two hours into the drive here the temps would have been in the 20-30 range. The poor things were in the back of the delivery truck where it was very cold. I was hoping they could catch a ride up front, but that's probably not allowed either.

I did learn a lesson. Don't order ducks for a holiday delivery.

 

[Sumatra503]

Our last two batches of chicks arrived either too cold or dead. It just happens sometimes when shipping young birds. Don't blame yourself it wasn't your fault. I have often force fed weak babies. It never seems to work unless they are tube fed.

You are doing good with the stuffed duck. A mirror will help as well. The duck sounds are intriguing. Maybe you can find an app that peeps. I think the quacking might keep you up, though. I'd just leave her in the pen if she is content with the stuffed duck. Holding her will keep her away fromt he food and water for long periods of time.

 

[*DuckLuvR*]

I'm soooo sorry about your ducklings. I watched your post all day. I too am getting 6 ducklings from Metzer in about 2 weeks - due 3/16,
and will be my first time with ducklings. Sending hugs & kisses to your "Angel".

*

 

[pirtykitty]

A clean feather duster would be good for her too.. she could get under it's feathers but it has to be clean no dust.

 

[lovesduckies]

Quote:
i second this. i had a duckling die from MEDICATED chick feed. i only feed ducklings game bird starter feed that i drive 20 miles to get when i have a feed store about 3 miles from my house

i am sorry for your losses

give your baby lots and lots of cuddles!!

 

[azhenhouse]

Angel is gone

I don't understand how she seemed so strong yesterday to dying overnight. Oh, you don't know how I thought this was going to be so easy. I mean, I raised my eleven chickens from when they were just three days old. Three of them were just given to me from the feed store because the owner didn't think they were going to make it. They had almost been picked to death by the other chickens. Today, the one that had the worst injuries is our best layer. So, to have these ducklings show up, and die one by one, has been very distressing.

Metzers Farm will replace them, and will be sending the new hatchlings out next week. Before they get here I just want to make sure I did everything right by these three. I am going to tell you my set up, and you all let me know if there is a problem.

I use a large rubbermaid container for the housing. Their heat source is a 250 watt heat lamp, red. The temperature under the lamp is around 90 degrees, and is 18 inches up from the bottom of the brooder floor. The room temperature is 65 degrees. I use towels or pee pads for the bedding. In their water I use the vitamin pack that Metzers recommended. Their feed consist of chicken starter, game-bird starter, and oats. According to Dave Holderread, this is good. I was told by the feed store that the chicken starter was non-medicated. It doesn't say on the bag non-medicated, but then again, it doesn't say that it is. Would it say medicated if it was? The feed could be feed leftover from last year, as no one is selling chicks and ducklings now. The feed was all sealed up and looks fine. Do you think it's bad?

This is the same set up as I used for my chickens, and it worked. Do I need to do anything different?

I am really nervous about getting the new ducklings. I don't want it to be all doom and gloom. Hopefully, it won't take them three days to get from California to Arizona like it did the others. Thanks for reading, and for all the encouragement. Kris

 

[azhenhouse]

Quote:
Thank you. It's good to know that I am not alone. Of course, not for you but for me

. Know what I mean?

 

[jack & mommy's duckies]

I think you did every thing right.........I think you just had a bad thing happen. And Metzer Farms customer service far above anyone elses. (I just adore them) I'm flying 30 birds in at the end of March here into Ontario Canada....we will likely still have snow. And it will most likely still be cold.......so I have my fingers crossed.

Just a thought........go to your post office where they are suspose to be coming to.....tell them there what happened...tell them that they are coming again....call them the day you know they leave. And maybe bribe them.... Tell them if you get your birds safe and sound there is yummy treats ahead for them....tell them to pass the info down the line. It may mean baking a bunch of cookies or squares...but that will maybe make you stick out in their mind and help out. And find out how many stops they have to make and package and ship backwards to all the stops...call if you can to those stops. Just a thought....I find people work harder for you if they have happy tummy's (My work can't pay the boys top dollar...but soon we will as econmy improves.....but every wednesday night I make a big pot of stew...chilli....soup and take the crock pot to work and they eat for two days off of it. I sure do have happy empolyees and they are always happy to help me at the drop of the hat)

Just keep smiling