Why do my ducklings keep dying?

[bryonyl95]

Hello,
I had a broody call duck so decided to hatch out some ducklings. Out of 10 eggs, 9 ducklings hatched which I thought was pretty good since last year only two hatched. Unfortunately, where I left the ducklings in with their mother and all the other duck I lost three due to drowning sink removed the mum and the ducklings from the flock to a pen with no pond. Then my ducks started mysteriously dying. They'd start off fine then slow down a bit and then it was like there head was too heavy for their head and when that stage hit they would only last another 10-20 minutes. I now only have three ducks left and I've brought them inside under a heat lamp until I can work out the problem. There is nothing in their pen that could be poisoning them as they were on the patio with some sawdust on top. Please help! I don't want to lose any more ducklings!

 

[Going Quackers]

I'm sorry to hear that. hmm.. feed? what is being fed to them? any chance of any plants that are toxic, no one spraying any chemicals near the pen?

Sadly, sometimes we lose babies, and no reasonable explanation is found. Do you have Storey's guide to ducks? he lists some common ailments perhaps it may help you narrow it down.

 

[bryonyl95]

I'm sorry to hear that. hmm.. feed? what is being fed to them? any chance of any plants that are toxic, no one spraying any chemicals near the pen?

Sadly, sometimes we lose babies, and no reasonable explanation is found. Do you have Storey's guide to ducks? he lists some common ailments perhaps it may help you narrow it down.

They are being fed on chick mash. There aren't any plants in their pen so it couldn't have been that and there haven't been any chemicals used. I may have to buy this book. I know sometimes they just die but when it's quite a few you start to think there must be something wrong.

 

[Amiga]

It could be nutrient (niacin) deficiency from the chick mash, but don't rule out a mosquito or fly-borne virus or bacterium or protozoan.

Are they outdoors? Are there any of those flying, biting insects about?

Ducklings don't have the adult feathers to protect them from bites.

 

[Nebraskagirl]

I was JUST thinking of mosquitoes. It is that time of year. Those biting jerks are out here in Nebraska! I hope you find out what is happening. Sorry you are going through such a bad time. I would keep them inside in a brooder and see if that improves the outcome.

 

[bryonyl95]

There are no Mosquitos about so it won't be that. They are indoors now but one of them has gone into shock after being attacked by the tortoise. I swear these ducklings have nothing but bad luck

 

[Going Quackers]

There are no Mosquitos about so it won't be that. They are indoors now but one of them has gone into shock after being attacked by the tortoise. I swear these ducklings have nothing but bad luck

? i thought they were penned, did the turtle get in? I wonder about niacin too, as Amiga said... if using chicken feeds(short of broiler) you need to add extra. There is some info in this raising ducklings sticky.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

I don't disagree when several die, you do worry far more. I don't really have much of an explanation, however if predators are getting in you have a whole new set of issues, i fully agree with the suggestion on bringing them in to observe and treat the remaining.

 

[bryonyl95]

No I brought them in under the heat lamp which is in my tortoises house so I split the house so he had one side and they have the other. He got their side somehow and got one of them. It was only temporary whilst I made them a brooder with my spar heat lamp. I'm going to see if I can buy some niacin tomorrow

 

[Amiga]

hoo boy.

 

[charlindabob]

Hello,
I had a broody call duck so decided to hatch out some ducklings. Out of 10 eggs, 9 ducklings hatched which I thought was pretty good since last year only two hatched. Unfortunately, where I left the ducklings in with their mother and all the other duck I lost three due to drowning sink removed the mum and the ducklings from the flock to a pen with no pond. Then my ducks started mysteriously dying. They'd start off fine then slow down a bit and then it was like there head was too heavy for their head and when that stage hit they would only last another 10-20 minutes. I now only have three ducks left and I've brought them inside under a heat lamp until I can work out the problem. There is nothing in their pen that could be poisoning them as they were on the patio with some sawdust on top. Please help! I don't want to lose any more ducklings!

I wonder if they were eating the sawdust?