Why are my male ducks dying randomly in their sleep?

[theycallmechickmagnet]

Idk if death goes under this category but oh well. I had a Welsh Harlequin drake who died at around 6 months old. What was weird is that he never showed any signs of illness or anything like that. We just got up the next day to see that he was dead. He ate fine drank fine and everything was fine. We checked him for any markings but there were absolutely none.

...His wife was all alone so we got more ducks (4 females and 2 males, all healthy)-

Now today we have lost a pekin drake who is about 2 months old. Same deal, died in his sleep with no markings. I even looked in it's mouth and there was no vomit. The only feathers that are on the ground are the ones I accidentally pulled out while flipping him over. Again absolutely no signs of attack. Or illness. He died in a sleeping position, just like the other guy.

Now what could be causing this?

I'm sort of thinking it is their diet. All our birdies eat egg layer feed (for chickens) and a lot of it. Could it be a lack of vitamins or something? -But wouldn't they show signs of lacking vitamins like weakness or something? Why did one die at a much younger age, is it realative to size or breed?

We only have 1 drake left and he is a rouen, and we can't lose him too. Is there any diseases that go unnoticed?

 

[sourland]

There is the outside possibility that the calcium level in the layer feed MAY be causing problems.

 

[theycallmechickmagnet]

There is the outside possibility that the calcium level in the layer feed MAY be causing problems.

Oh crud, I had no idea about that. I'm gonna do some research. Thank you for bringing up that possibility