Update: Duckling pictures Edit: All dead :(. Help! My ducklings are all dying!

[Baylor]

I have never thought of the container keeping the babies in a brooder before. My friend hatched two babies last year and they both were doing much of the same so I had her change the feed immediately and we gave them ACV, vitamins etc - one died so I took the other one to my house and I always put them in a pet cage wrapped in towels. The container she had was a big plastic tub...The one I took survived but had all the same symptoms...
It is something to ponder I will stay away from those type of containers in the future after reading this.
I did lose a baby a few weeks ago after hatching 5 days it kept flipping and I did vitamins etc...sometimes nature just makes decisions we cant make ourselves I found him dead in the am - the other 12 are still doing good but it was sad to lose that little guy.

 

[NorCalDucks]

Thank you all for your support, it does help.

To answer a few questions, yes, we live in Grass Valley so only 4 driving hours to Metzer. Their website said all over it that the ducks arrive on Wednesday, so first thing Wednesday I went to see if they were there, apparently they had arrived TUESDAY morning and couldn't get ahold of us - and we were out in the afternoon so who knows. But since the ducks don't normally arrive until Wednesday I can't see why that would be such a big deal.

We do have holes drilled in the tub. The bottom is hardware cloth with grippy shelf liner over it, we replicated a brooder I saw here. There is also a hardware cloth top to prevent the lamp from falling.

Our plan is to get two week old unknown breed ducklings from the local feed store tomorrow to make sure we can keep them healthy before another 6 come from Metzer next week. No sugar this time, but will do vitamins and electrolytes just in case. Will keep y'all updated, hopefully we will have 8 healthy ladies!

 

[desertdarlene]

You might want to check with your PO on Tuesday, though because of the holiday, they probably won't be there until Wednesday next week. I would just keep checking with the PO each day until you get them. Most of the time, they're delivered in the early morning.

 

[dham]

Just a quick word of advice. Make sure you watch the older ducks closely with the babies. Last time I did this I had the babies in with a duck that was two weeks older and it accidentally crushed one... I would either separate or watch closely. Just don't want you to have the experience the heartbreak again. It is terrible. I really hope it works out for you and maybe we can share tips and pointers. I just brought two babies home today and a five week old or so drake two days ago. Best of luck!

 

[countrygirl74]

Just thought I would share some info that might help that I don't think was yet mentioned...

New ducklings can also get "waterlogged" in the first few days. It is recommended that you give them water for about 15 minutes and then take it away for 10-15 minutes. Do this for about an hour and then they should be able to regulate themselves. After being shipped, they are sometimes a little dehydrated and will drink too much at once. I lost one duckling before I started doing this. She did the same thing, flopped on her back, kind of had convulsions and then died.

As for care, I can just share with you what I did. It sounds like you did a good job - it's difficult to say why they passed unless it was the above or lack of niacin?

I also use a rubbermaid for all my ducklings and have never had any issues. I use a heatlamp with the red bulbs. I feed them with non-medicated chick starter. I use paper towels on the bottom for the first few days and then switch to a crumbled animal bedding (basically pine crumbles). I put 1 teaspoon of organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar "with the mother" in their water. The last and one of the most important is that I add niacin to their water. Ducklings need up to 3x's the niacin that chicks need and there isn't enough in the food and vitamin supplements. I get 100mg capsules as they are easy to open up and drop the powder in to dissolve. Use 100-125mg niacin to 1 gallon of water for the first 10-12 weeks. Do not get the "flush-free" or "time-release" niacin - just regular niacin. Sometimes you have to go to the health food store to find it.

I really hope this helps! I was sooo sad when my one little duckling died so I know it is difficult. Also, I got mine from Metzer's too! However, the one that died on me was from another hatchery. The batch of ducklings I got from Metzer's were the most healthy, active ducklings I ever ordered. I hope you keep us posted on how it goes the next time around and don't give up - it will be ok.

 

[Going Quackers]

. The last and one of the most important is that I add niacin to their water. Ducklings need up to 3x's the niacin that chicks need and there isn't enough in the food and vitamin supplements. I get 100mg capsules as they are easy to open up and drop the powder in to dissolve. Use 100-125mg niacin to 1 gallon of water for the first 10-12 weeks. Do not get the "flush-free" or "time-release" niacin - just regular niacin. Sometimes you have to go to the health food store to find it.

I feel i should mention this is only if your feeding chick starter, if you can get duck starter or have a flock raiser this is NOT needed. As i have raised all my ducks on either FR or duck starter i have never needed the addition of this.

 

[jdywntr]

Thank you all for your support, it does help.

To answer a few questions, yes, we live in Grass Valley so only 4 driving hours to Metzer. Their website said all over it that the ducks arrive on Wednesday, so first thing Wednesday I went to see if they were there, apparently they had arrived TUESDAY morning and couldn't get ahold of us - and we were out in the afternoon so who knows. But since the ducks don't normally arrive until Wednesday I can't see why that would be such a big deal.

This may have been the problem. The USPS can be really efficient at times and not so much at others and the ducklings could have gotten chilled overnight at the PO. They probably wouldn't/couldn't have kept them at an appropriate temp.

Shipping is hard because there isn't a guaranteed time of arrival. When I had mine shipped, I had blocked off my mornings for 3 days just in case they arrived sooner or later.

Sorry again for your experience. I'm glad that you found another option.

 

[desertdarlene]

This may have been the problem.  The USPS can be really efficient at times and not so much at others and the ducklings could have gotten chilled overnight at the PO.  They probably wouldn't/couldn't have kept them at an appropriate temp.

Shipping is hard because there isn't a guaranteed time of arrival.  When I had mine shipped, I had blocked off my mornings for 3 days just in case they arrived sooner or later.

Sorry again for your experience.  I'm glad that you found another option.

I think this is a good theory. But, doesn't Metzers supply a heat pack or something because it sometimes takes three days to get to some parts of the country?

 

[carcar80]

What on earth do these babies eat- or more importantly, drink- on these three day shipments? Just curious, never ordered online before.

 

[cosbackyard]

They don't have anything to eat or drink while in transit. Just a little heat pad that won't last three days. The ducks I've ordered have all arrived in two days or less and been completely fine. But from reading the forums it seems that if they take any longer than two days you can start to lose ducklings.