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yellowpuddleduck

Help! sick ducklings

20 years ago

Hi,

I had some ducklings hatch over the past week. I had to take some into the house because the mom's didn't take care of them. I realize they may have known there was a problem with them and that's why they didn't take care of them. I took in a total of 4 ducklings, they all seemed to be doing great until yesterday when I noticed one was very pale, I watched him all day, he ate and drank fine, at night I put him under a lamp, but in the morning he was dead. Now 2 of the other ducklings that were with him are looking a little pale too. Any idea what it could be? Any thoughts about what I should do?

Thank you!

YPD

Comments (6)

  • 20 years ago

    what do you mean pale?
    Was their beak a lighter color or thier fuzz?
    Are they warm enough?
    What are they eating?
    Did they perhaps eat something toxic while outside and it is just now taking effect?
    Are thier navels ok? I had some ducklings die and when I looked at their navel, it was infected looking, I was told that they may not have developed correctly, I have seen some hatch with thier intestines still outside thier navel.
    Hope you can figure it out, and perhaps get better info.

  • 20 years ago

    well their beak is more grey like then orange, their little feathers seem whiter then yellower. they eat crushed layer pellets which is what I have been feeding my ducklings for the past 2 years and I never had problems with that. It is warm in the room where they stay, when it gets chilly I put a lamp over them. I will have to check about the navel thing, altough like I said what was weird is that they were in great condition for the past couple of days, so this is sort of coming by surprise...

  • 20 years ago

    I'm not for sure what's wrong with you babies--but, we got some baby ducklings at Tradeday several months ago and one got sick and had white foamy slimy stuff coming out of it's mouth. It died a few days later :( Then several weeks later all the rest got the foamy stuff and I gave them some tetracycline med. It was actually some medication I got in a pill form for my face. It helped them and everyone of them are super and haven't seemed sick since. I'm not sure if that would be safe or not for your ducks because I don't know really what the problem is.
    I feed my baby ducks baby chicken/started feed and they love it. It is medicated with some kind of med. for baby ducks/chicks. Maybe try giving them a little of that and good luck!
    Genny

  • 20 years ago

    I don't think you are supposed to give the ducklings layer feed this young. That is intended for more mature ducks. Even though you may have had luck with it in the past, doesn't mean every duck group will tolerate it well. Try what gennym said and give them starter feed, it is what I always used because it has the extra medicine and vitamins for the young growing ducks/chicks

  • 20 years ago

    Sometimes their vents(buts) get pluged with poop. They do well with a washing withwarm water and a rub of mineral oil. Ducks do better with game bird starter, or what ever is the same thing in your area I wish you and the ducklings well.

  • 15 years ago

    im 16 (boy) and i just got my first duck.....one of them died 2 days later... it was sick from the beginning and had, something like blood on its legs... i tought it was just the nerves.... the other one is doing fine.... but im worried about the but(vent) thing u said.. does it mean that we have to always .. like... squeeze its poop out or something... how do i know weather its blocked or not...

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