What is with these Buff ducklings?

[onehorse_2000]

I hatched out a khaki and a good handful of buffs over the last couple of weeks, oldest being about 5 weeks, youngest being about 2 1/2 weeks. This week has not been a good week for ducklings here, lost the one that was acting funny that I posted about in another post, lost 2 to the waterer, and lost another little guy to unknown causes. So, thinking I was being nice, took the ducklings for a swim in the tub for the first time. 2 of the buffs hit the water and cramp up like fainting goats, legs out head back, stiff. Grag them before they drown, give them a few moments and they come around, act normal and want to swim. After the swim, all of the buffs start falling all over themselves and some have still not gotten themselves back together yet, but the khaki is fine, played, got out and started preening. What is this?????? I am starting to think that the ones lost to the waterer and maybe the other are due to the same thing?

 

[onehorse_2000]

Anyone?

 

[bt03]

Sorry about your ducks. I have no idea what is going on as I am new to ducks. I hope someone who knows will come along soon and help you. All I can do for now is give you a bump. Hope everyone is alright soon

 

[mhwc56]

oh no! wish i had an answer for you but i don't ....

 

[Duckchick2011]

I will hazard a guess and say that they are having seizures and the list of what can cause that is pretty long. It ranges from exposure to toxic substances to in-proper incubation(something may have gone wrong with the temp, or humidity, or even the way they were turned) I am not a vet and I have never seen this before, it may not even be seizures but that is what it sounds like... I WOULD get a hold of your veterinarian as soon as possible...hopefully someone can give you some better advice.

What are you feeding them? It could be something as simple as a vitamin deficiency.

 

[onehorse_2000]

Another one just did it with the water dish. I swapped out from the chick waterer, with the wide base (not the quail waterer) to 2 crocks, so that they can blow their nasal stuff out, etc. Put the bowls down, one of the ducklings took one look at the bowls, seized(fainted, whatever) launching himself into the watering bowl. I retrieved him and he looks okay, but what the heck? I got niacin at the store today, but apparently the wrong stuff, so it will need to go back and the other found, since Walmart didn't seem to have any other kind.

 

[Duckchick2011]

I really don't know what to tell you, I wish I was more knowledgeable but I really have never scene this. Look in the phone book for an emergency 24 hour vet or something....I don't see how it could hurt to try and get a hold of one...

I would change the name of the post to something like EMERGENCY: I NEED HELP...it might get the attention you obviously are in great need of...I sure hope you figure things out

...I think I would be just totally freaked right now if I were you

Good Luck

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

really that just happened to one of my Muscovy ducklings. I came out to put them away for the night and the same thing happened to him. i had let them swim for a little bit and i thought he was drowning. but he was perfectly fine after so i dumped the pool so it doesn't happen again. he's been fine ever since so i don't really know what happened. i'm a first time duck owner so i don't really have that much experience i really do want to help sorry.