URGENT duckling eye infection

[AshVau22]

I love kiddy pool brooders for ducks and chicks. It's cheap, plenty of ventilation and room. And super easy to clean.

 

[SixBabies]

Have you raised ducklings before? Pictures of the new brooder would be nice and of the duckling in question. Also the breed. 6 ducklings is a lot and they grow fast. Ducklings need water 24/7. What is the heat source in your brooder? How did the duckling get the injury on her back? Ducks will rub themselves all over it's completely natural and necessary for applying oils to themselves. Be very careful with herbal remedies. I've seen them do more harm than good. I recommend https://www.chewy.com/dp/133994?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=133994 for any body wounds. And the the other eye spray and gel I have mentioned above for eye issues.

Thank you so much for the response!

I will get some of that ordered today and hopefully it ships out asap!
I have had some bad experiences with chewy in the past hope it comes. I will use a burner email, last time I used them there was a data breach and mine got leaked.

First time with ducklings I thought I had mentioned that but it is just on my intro thread.

I have the right kind of feed for them and the supplemental niacin powder and vitamin stuff from Metzer farms.

This is the current brooder we switched them to. It’s at least twice the size of the one before which is helping it stay cleaner for longer now

We are using organic hemp bedding.
Is there a better type I should get? It’s almost time to get some more, so…

I have been keeping the brooding plate on I’m going to switch to the bigger one soon. My room is also rocking a consistent 85+ degrees and is an absolute nightmare to sleep in. We have a thermometer in there too. Moving the bigger brooding plate to the brooder.

We had some issues with the last one they started getting big so they were jumping on top. We got the new tub within a day or two of that cardboard patch job.

I will keep their water in at night still, again I have been changing it about every 20 minutes or less. Not sleeping a lot but getting my winks in via micro sleeps. Especially the hours they are asleep the most has been helpful.

They wake me up slurping water like clockwork at 3am so I know they probably need it, was just responding to the question.

There was also a typo in my earlier post reply I only just now caught.
I put some super tiny peppermint leaf bits ON their backs not in their backs/wounds. Using very sparingly, only because of the bugs.

I appreciate the warning! Not everyone know this so always good to let others know about! I’m on the carnivore diet and I garden a lot, so I’m fairly well aware of how dangerous plants can be especially at early developmental stages which is why I tried so hard to get the medicine.

I was babysitting 2 separate batches of newborn kittens and the same mom separate times for a homeless friend one time who dumped them on me for a bit after much protest, and she let them get all super bad fleas and on top of that the parents were incestuous because she didn’t get them fixed.

I’ve had several kittens die who were too young for flea meds from combo of dehydration from fleas and blood loss from fleas and there was genuinely nothing I could do. Similar vet issue and meds impossibility. I wasn’t going to watch that happen again with my ducklings.

They are also growing in feathers and scratching a bit now probably because of that. So far the difference between the types and intensity of the scratching has been pretty clear, but I also don’t know for sure. I am new to this.

This is the current water solution it needs to be bigger for sure they are getting big fast.

Going to try to Uber out to the farm supply store to get a bigger one ASAP, but of course I need someone to watch them for me while I do that because I don’t want them to get sick again or dehydrated!

 

[SixBabies]

View attachment 4228947
I love kiddy pool brooders for ducks and chicks. It's cheap, plenty of ventilation and room. And super easy to clean.

Very nice! Unfortunately we do not have the space for that.

I got a LOT of mixed info on Reddit turns out I listened to the wrong side on baby ducklings. Maybe they were all referencing older baby ducklings but it seems like some people just put them in a tub and hope for the best. And are usually referencing springtime not early autumn born ducklings. Of course got a brood plate beforehand and keeping it warm, but if I had known the exact temps earlier for their age and season I would have waited til spring.

 

[AshVau22]

Thank you so much for the response!

I will get some of that ordered today and hopefully it ships out asap!
I have had some bad experiences with chewy in the past hope it comes. I will use a burner email, last time I used them there was a data breach and mine got leaked.

First time with ducklings I thought I had mentioned that but it is just on my intro thread.

I have the right kind of feed for them and the supplemental niacin powder and vitamin stuff from Metzer farms.

This is the current brooder we switched them to. It’s at least twice the size of the one before which is helping it stay cleaner for longer now

View attachment 4229010View attachment 4229011

We are using organic hemp bedding.
Is there a better type I should get? It’s almost time to get some more, so…

I have been keeping the brooding plate on I’m going to switch to the bigger one soon. My room is also rocking a consistent 85+ degrees and is an absolute nightmare to sleep in. We have a thermometer in there too. Moving the bigger brooding plate to the brooder.

We had some issues with the last one they started getting big so they were jumping on top. We got the new tub within a day or two of that cardboard patch job.

I will keep their water in at night still, again I have been changing it about every 20 minutes or less. Not sleeping a lot but getting my winks in via micro sleeps. Especially the hours they are asleep the most has been helpful.

They wake me up slurping water like clockwork at 3am so I know they probably need it, was just responding to the question.

There was also a typo in my earlier post reply I only just now caught.
I put some super tiny peppermint leaf bits ON their backs not in their backs/wounds. Using very sparingly, only because of the bugs.

I appreciate the warning! Not everyone know this so always good to let others know about! I’m on the carnivore diet and I garden a lot, so I’m fairly well aware of how dangerous plants can be especially at early developmental stages which is why I tried so hard to get the medicine.

I was babysitting 2 separate batches of newborn kittens and the same mom separate times for a homeless friend one time who dumped them on me for a bit after much protest, and she let them get all super bad fleas and on top of that the parents were incestuous because she didn’t get them fixed.

I’ve had several kittens die who were too young for flea meds from combo of dehydration from fleas and blood loss from fleas and there was genuinely nothing I could do. Similar vet issue and meds impossibility. I wasn’t going to watch that happen again with my ducklings.

They are also growing in feathers and scratching a bit now probably because of that. So far the difference between the types and intensity of the scratching has been pretty clear, but I also don’t know for sure. I am new to this.

This is the current water solution it needs to be bigger for sure they are getting big fast.

View attachment 4229021

Going to try to Uber out to the farm supply store to get a bigger one ASAP, but of course I need someone to watch them for me while I do that because I don’t want them to get sick again or dehydrated!

So yes they definitely need a proper waterer. That is actually for food not water. I know people will also take a Tupperware container cut holes and keep the lid on to prevent less water splashes.
Check out this product! https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/flock-party-5-qt-duck-drinker-blue-1031319-1966195 https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/flock-party-5-qt-duck-drinker-blue-1031319-1966195
This is a DYI to give you an idea.

Hemp bedding is fine, I've never used it. I use pine shavings but that's something easily accessible to me. Hemp is not.

I'm unsure it may be the picture quality but I does look like there may be possible mold or mildew under the hemp bedding. In the picture it looks wet ring on the bottom. But again could be picture quality.

How does the heat plate work? Doesn't look like they can get under it for warmth.

I know a lot of people brood ducks/chicks in plastic containers. I don't think this is the best way. They tend to not be big enough. And leads to issues.

They are old enough for short swims in the bath or sink. Make sure they can still touch bottom. Lukewarm water. My only worry would be drying off after and being warm. I use a heat lamp so they dry fast and are warm after a swim. Because they get cold fast when little.

 

[AshVau22]

I either put mine in the bath or laundry room wash tub. I make sure they can touch bottom till they get older and float better. Usually 10 mins to start.

 

[SixBabies]

So yes they definitely need a proper waterer. That is actually for food not water. I know people will also take a Tupperware container cut holes and keep the lid on to prevent less water splashes.
Check out this product! https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/flock-party-5-qt-duck-drinker-blue-1031319-1966195 https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/flock-party-5-qt-duck-drinker-blue-1031319-1966195
This is a DYI to give you an idea.
View attachment 4229034
Hemp bedding is fine, I've never used it. I use pine shavings but that's something easily accessible to me. Hemp is not.

I'm unsure it may be the picture quality but I does look like there may be possible mold or mildew under the hemp bedding. In the picture it looks wet ring on the bottom. But again could be picture quality.

How does the heat plate work? Doesn't look like they can get under it for warmth.

I know a lot of people brood ducks/chicks in plastic containers. I don't think this is the best way. They tend to not be big enough. And leads to issues.

They are old enough for short swims in the bath or sink. Make sure they can still touch bottom. Lukewarm water. My only worry would be drying off after and being warm. I use a heat lamp so they dry fast and are warm after a swim. Because they get cold fast when little.

Yeah the waterer I had is way too small. They also keep getting so much stuff in it including poop.

So I have been temporarily using the second feeder so they could dunk their heads without getting so wet and messy as fast and fully dunk their heads in. Kept the actual feeder part on so they wouldn’t try to get in it and/or get stuck in it.

The Tupperware is a great idea but I am not sure I have the right tools to cut into it.
Will absolutely go see if I can find one at the local grocery store.

For anything hardware store related not sure if I can make it there and back in time or if they have exactly what I need.

 

[AshVau22]

Yeah the waterer I had is way too small. They also keep getting so much stuff in it including poop.

So I have been temporarily using the second feeder so they could dunk their heads without getting so wet and messy as fast and fully dunk their heads in. Kept the actual feeder part on so they wouldn’t try to get in it and/or get stuck in it.

The Tupperware is a great idea but I am not sure I have the right tools to cut into it.
Will absolutely go see if I can find one at the local grocery store.

For anything hardware store related not sure if I can make it there and back in time or if they have exactly what I need.

Ducks are the most messy things ever. What are your plans for the duck house when they move outside?
You can prop the water up onto something I use a 2x4

 

[SixBabies]

So yes they definitely need a proper waterer. That is actually for food not water. I know people will also take a Tupperware container cut holes and keep the lid on to prevent less water splashes.
Check out this product! https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/flock-party-5-qt-duck-drinker-blue-1031319-1966195 https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/flock-party-5-qt-duck-drinker-blue-1031319-1966195
This is a DYI to give you an idea.
View attachment 4229034
Hemp bedding is fine, I've never used it. I use pine shavings but that's something easily accessible to me. Hemp is not.

I'm unsure it may be the picture quality but I does look like there may be possible mold or mildew under the hemp bedding. In the picture it looks wet ring on the bottom. But again could be picture quality.

How does the heat plate work? Doesn't look like they can get under it for warmth.

I know a lot of people brood ducks/chicks in plastic containers. I don't think this is the best way. They tend to not be big enough. And leads to issues.

They are old enough for short swims in the bath or sink. Make sure they can still touch bottom. Lukewarm water. My only worry would be drying off after and being warm. I use a heat lamp so they dry fast and are warm after a swim. Because they get cold fast when little.

Taking a look at the supposed mildew you’re seeing it might just be the lighting. I’m using the deep bedding method so that they can be clean and fresh longer. The moist trickles down to the bottom and then I clean it out once per day.

I dump and scoop bedding and duck litter where needed throughout the day and replace with fresh bedding throughout. I don’t have tub or enough bedding to comfortably put them in a different tub for so much of the day.

I tried putting a shallow bowl of water for easier access since they look big enough and are getting little feathers in now. they splashed it EVERYWHERE so supervised bathtub is a wonderful idea! Thank you so much!!

I’ve been using clean warm towels to dry them they haven’t been getting too wet since I switched to the backup feeder for water. Going to replace that though asap!

Do you like wash them in the bath or just let them swim and splash around a little in there?
If you do wash them I have dawn dish soap I’m not gonna do that yet since I don’t know if it’s the right time for that or not yet.

 

[SixBabies]

Ducks are the most messy things ever. What are your plans for the duck house when they move outside?
You can prop the water up onto something I use a 2x4

Yeah I’ve got plenty of 2x4 scraps I’ll post a pic of my duckling enclosure soon.

I also have some bags of sand and I plan on eventually long term once they graduate to the big duck enclosure dig a trench around the pond and fill it with rocks and gravel for drainage and low mess.

 

[AshVau22]

Taking a look at the supposed mildew you’re seeing it might just be the lighting. I’m using the deep bedding method so that they can be clean and fresh longer. The moist trickles down to the bottom and then I clean it out once per day.

I dump and scoop bedding and duck litter where needed throughout the day and replace with fresh bedding throughout. I don’t have tub or enough bedding to comfortably put them in a different tub for so much of the day.

I tried putting a shallow bowl of water for easier access since they look big enough and are getting little feathers in now. they splashed it EVERYWHERE so supervised bathtub is a wonderful idea! Thank you so much!!

I’ve been using clean warm towels to dry them they haven’t been getting too wet since I switched to the backup feeder for water. Going to replace that though asap!

Do you like wash them in the bath or just let them swim and splash around a little in there?
If you do wash them I have dawn dish soap I’m not gonna do that yet since I don’t know if it’s the right time for that or not yet.

I just let them play no need to wash they'll do that themselves. I do not recommend ever using dawn or any kind of oil cutting soap on ducks. Unless they have something on them that needs cleaned off for there safety. Because doing that to a healthy duck or ducklings will destroy all their protective oils they naturally have on them.