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

[carcar80]

Very interesting.. Thanks! I wouldn't have thought they could go so long.

 

[NorCalDucks]

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

There's a gel you can buy, I did of course. There is also a heat pack, although it wasn't warm still Wednesday morning

 

[Wolfkat17]

I am so sorry for your loss. I am soon to be a new duck owner come May and I have done a lot of research on the types of ducks I ordered. I hope that all of the knowledge I acquired will help me care for my ducks to the "best of my ability" once they come. I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose all of your first ducks. I'll let you all know how it goes when mine arrive. Wishing you the best on the new batch.

 

[missnu01]

We got 4 pekin ducklings on the 6th, and then 2 mallards on the 7th, and then on the 15 we got 2 more mallards, I have 3 welsh Harlequin 1 rouen, and 1 khaki campbell coming in May...So far everyone is doing well and I am using red bulbs from TSC, One brooder is a plastic tote from my husbands work that we were using as a toybox, the pekins are in a wooden outdoor brooder...There have been no issues at all. They are eating Dumor Chick starter with niacin added sometimes...They have also had some meat bird food, and some flock raiser...I can't imagine what the problem would have been with your ducks unless it was just an issue with the ducks you got...not the breed, but perhaps the ducks they sent weren't doing all that great to begin with. Perhaps the shipping was just too much for them. I don't think it was anything you did, or any weird gases coming off the plastic or bulbs...In fact a few days after we got the mallards I took them out and just scooted the lid on their rubbermaid tote back with the light still on it, and it melted the top and side of the tote, but still no issues...so I don't think it is anything you did. I think sometimes these things just happen.
I did use some poultry vitamins in the water for the first couple of days, but then nothing for anyone...
Try not using sugar for the next batch and just hope everything goes well. I can only imagine how hard that would be.

 

[Miss Lydia]

gro gel add it to your order.

 

[NorCalDucks]

gro gel add it to your order.

The dead ducks had it. The next batch will have it too.

 

[tweetyduck]

Never heard of sugar water. I just got two ducklings less than a week ago (one is a Rouen, the other is a Cayuga. I also have a two year old pekin). I keep their bin fresh with wood shavings, they ALWAYS have water and food, and I play with them each day for about an hour. Also,at night I keep them under a heat lamp, which is about 100wats. Are you doing anything different? My little guys are thriving and doing wonderfully, and i really hope yours will too! That's so sad, and I hope the rest of your ducklings end up ok.

 

[NorCalDucks]

Never heard of sugar water. I just got toe ducklings less than a week ago. I keep their bin fresh with wood shavings, they ALWAYS have water and food, and I play with them each day for about an hour. Also,at night I keep them under a heat lamp, which is about 100wats. Are you doing anything different? My little guys are thriving and doing wonderfully, and really hope yours will too! That's so sad, and I hope the Reston your ducklings end up ok.

The ducks started dying a few hours after we got them, and were all dead within 12 hours. Yes, pine shaving, food, water and temperature controlled. Getting two more today, will see how they do.

 

[aprille218]

What were you feeding them? Medicated chick feed is toxic to ducks and will cause them to flip over upside down and die fairly fast. Ducks need duck starter for the best start. Although the amount of sugar in the water may have been a little high I've given sugar water to my newly arrived ducklings for many years without any ill effects. I usually do about 1/2 cup per gallon of white granulated plain ol sugar for the first day only. Better luck next time.
Aprille

 

[NorCalDucks]

What were you feeding them? Medicated chick feed is toxic to ducks and will cause them to flip over upside down and die fairly fast. Ducks need duck starter for the best start. Although the amount of sugar in the water may have been a little high I've given sugar water to my newly arrived ducklings for many years without any ill effects. I usually do about 1/2 cup per gallon of white granulated plain ol sugar for the first day only. Better luck next time.
Aprille

Alrighty all, I've already answered a lot of these questions, and while I completely appreciate the help I'm going to stop answering questions multiple times

We used flock raiser, which is what our local feed store recommended and feeds their ducklings. When I'm there later I'll ask if that's the best option they carry.