Warning: Sad Posting-Lost a duckling

[Unruffled]

Sadly I had a duckling die last night. She was a 3 week old Cayuga. She came to me with a group of 14 other female ducklings from a hatchery when they were 2 days old.

Against my better judgement, and at my husband’s urging, I put the whole group of ducklings(which had always been a picture of health) outside on Sunday the 29th of August. Then yesterday August 31st, I noticed this duckling was keeping well away from the rest of the ducklings. Then I saw that she was gasping, while at the same time breathing heavy and fast.
She was also not taking anything by mouth.

I tried to look up on line what the problem could be( even though I have a feeling it’s because I brought her outside too soon.)
Any ideas or advice for the future?

Needless to say, I brought the rest of my babies back in until they get their feathers.

 

[Crazy Duck Lover]

I’m very sorry for your loss. I too lost a duck recently. It’s very hard to deal with but it’s a lesson that has to be learned.

 

[Salixx]

I’m sorry you lost her. I know all too well the pain.

I really don’t think you brought them outside too soon, per se if the weather was decent. I think fresh air, green grass and outdoor stimulation does babies of all kinds lots of good. If it was cold and rainy, that may have posed a problem but warming and sunny shouldn’t have been as much of a problem.

Are any of your other ducklings exhibiting symptoms? Is it possible she had an obstruction from eating something she shouldn’t? Did you hear any rasping or wheezing noises when she breathed?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

-What were the temperatures like there during the day and night?
-Did they have supplemental heat?
-What feed are they on?

 

[Unruffled]

I’m very sorry for your loss. I too lost a duck recently. It’s very hard to deal with but it’s a lesson that has to be learned.

Thank you. I have unfortunately lost birds in the past, but I feel particularly guilty over this poor little duckling I guess. Because I knew better than to put her outside this early and I should have followed my instincts. You’re right though, it is a hard lesson and I have learned it. Thank you for your kind words.

 

[Unruffled]

I’m sorry you lost her. I know all too well the pain.

I really don’t think you brought them outside too soon, per se if the weather was decent. I think fresh air, green grass and outdoor stimulation does babies of all kinds lots of good. If it was cold and rainy, that may have posed a problem but warming and sunny shouldn’t have been as much of a problem.

Are any of your other ducklings exhibiting symptoms? Is it possible she had an obstruction from eating something she shouldn’t? Did you hear any rasping or wheezing noises when she breathed?

Sorry it took so long for me to reply and thank you for your responses. Let’s see, I double checked and for the few days they were outside the temp was in the low 80s during the day and high 70s over night. It was a little damp the one day. I brought them all back in on the third morning.(good thing too, cuz later that day we got all the rain from Idah).

I feed them Purina non-medicated chick starter crumbles with Brewers Yeast added to it. I add probiotics to their water every other time that I change it. Every other day I add Poultry Cell to their water as well (Poultry Vitamin Supplement).

At this time they do not have supplemental heat.

I didn’t hear any rasping or wheezing coming from my little duckling when she was breathing. Just that she was breathing heavy and fast and she was gasping too. I tried to gently rub her throat and crop with my finger, in hopes that if she had something stuck,maybe I would dislodge it. But I felt nothing and it didn’t affect her breathing at all.

Thank goodness, none of the other ducklings have shown any signs of illness. Let me know if you think I should change their diet. Thanks again for your responses!

 

[Pierre duck drake]

I am sorry for your loss when we lost my daughters faverite drake she was so sad and we looked and looked but could never find his body or him his name was Pierre we are still looking for him today