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

[ccrecelius]

About 12 weeks ago, I got 10 day old chicks and 4 day old ducklings. Only one duckling survived. I order more chicks and ducklings and received them Friday August 1. I ordered 3 Sweedish ducklings. Two have died! I only have one left.

I am doing something wrong, please help!

I am NOT feeding them the chick starter.

I think Rural King sold me either the layer or the meatbird crumbles. They said that they were fine for ducklings. Is this wrong? Am I just set up wrong for the ducklings?

What am I SUPPOSED to be doing?

 

[josh_bigler]

well for me i use game starter and all have been healthy, im not sure why yours are dying like that, could be the feed? but i know a few people that uses what you are using with no problems at all, how long after you get them do they die???

 

[ccrecelius]

Well, with the first group I lost one in the first week. Then I lost the other two during the 3rd and 4th week.

I lost one from this group in the first 6 hours. And the second one today (day 3). I have them set up a lot like my chickens only their food is a lot lower and I also put a smaller (jar lid) feed tray with food and mixed it with water. I have been trying to keep their box around 90 degrees.

I really like these little guys and want to have many. I want to order some more, but will not until I find out what I am doing wrong.

 

[josh_bigler]

Quote:
the only difference i've set up was i had a small waterer, and i put food on a plate, i never mix food with water, and also after three days i usually take the heat down to around 80%.... from the way it sounds i really dont think you are really doing anything wrong, unless the ducklings are getting to hot, i would maybe try next time to get game starter, could be something your doing or it could be simply be not so healthy birds you got, maybe someone with a little more experience will chime in and give you the answers you are looking for!

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

I've lost ducklings due to them playing in their water and getting cold... could that be your problem? Supplying them with too much water in a little area where they can't escape their mess?

 

[ccrecelius]

Thank you Josh, I am going to turn down the heat then! I appreciate it!

And if anyone else has any advice, I appreciate it. I am feeling like a murderess right now!

 

[josh_bigler]

no problems, how big is your brooder box btw? and if it does get too hot, do they have a way to get out of the heat???

 

[ccrecelius]

I think that is where I messed up, I don't think it is big enough for them to get out of the heat. It is about 2 x 2.5 feet. And I am using one of those heat lamps with the big thingy (like my words, sometimes I make them up as I go! JK).

I just moved the light so that the temp. would drop and it also made it so that the little guy can get out of the light!

I am such a moron.

 

[ccrecelius]

O yeah, I started them on electrolytes today. Could that be a problem? I was going to keep them on electrolytes for three days.

I did not put the first group on them.

 

[josh_bigler]

electrolytes wouldnt be a problem, i bet it was the heat thingy lol, i usually just use a 60 watt light bulb instead of the big heat lights, i only use those big ones when its winter and they are in the shed, good luck to the rest! im pretty sure thats what the problems was,