**UPDATE** Help! Am I duckling killer?

[ccrecelius]

Thank you so much!

I changed to a 75 watt bulb (that's all I had) and moved the lamp so that my lone duck could get away from the heat. Thank you so much. I am going to go ahead and have another go at this. I am going to order more tomorrow!

You hope that this one is going to be OK. You are a "duckling saver". Thanks again!

 

[josh_bigler]

yep, you always have to keep trying! i remember my first time taking care of ducklings and i was so use to taking care of chicks i had no clue what to do, a little trial and error helps a lot, but you just cant give up!! good luck with the next batch!!!

 

[ticks]

I never used a heat lamp for my ducklings, I lost NONE. I just used a draft free room and I gave them, an animal to snuggle with.

 

[ccrecelius]

So just stick a little stuffed animal in there?

 

[josh_bigler]

Quote:
that works too.. but to be safe, its better to have a heat source that they can get away from easily than none, you need to remember also that ccrecelius only has one duckling left so it cant "snuggle" with other ducklings to build body heat..

 

[ticks]

Quote:
that works too.. but to be safe, its better to have a heat source that they can get away from easily than none, you need to remember also that ccrecelius only has one duckling left so it cant "snuggle" with other ducklings to build body heat..

Right I wasn't recommending it for one duckling.

 

[Frosty]

How long were you leaving the feed mixed with water there? I always try to keep the feed dry because grains can start getting moldy pretty quickly.

 

[ccrecelius]

It would only last a couple hours before on of them pooped in it and I would clean it up and make them some more.

 

[waterfowlrescue]

Some medications in feeds for other birds are toxic to ducks. I would check and make sure you know whats it the feed your giving them.

 

[swampducks]

I agree with everyone it was probably excess heat that they couldn't escape. My muscovy ducklings are about a month old and I took their light away completely at 3 weeks (of course, it's been pretty warm here even for Michigan).

Also, the poster suggesting you re-check the feed just to be sure is a good idea. Usually there's a tag on the bag that will list ingredients, any drugs are usually a long Latin name.

But I bet it's the heat, good luck next time.