Ducklings died - what should I do.

Ann@Nanango · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:39 am

Hi.

I am moving into a friends house in a couple of weeks, and we are moving our poultry there.

Mel (the person who lives there already), bought 2 or 3 (not sure exactly) ducklings for meat. Problem is, a couple of weeks ago, they both died. By what I can gather, they were doing well, then suddenly each one would separate itself from the rest of the flock (mature ducks/drakes) and stop eating then die overnight.

One of Mel's mature ducks has a really heaving chest when it breathes. Mel said it's had it ever since she got him.

I have not idea what disease it could be and am worried that it could be something contagious which may be transmitted to my birds (chickens). If it's something that only affects young birds, that'll be OK for the moment, until we get some babies (being incubated as we speak).

I'm wondering if the source may be the place where Mel's been getting the birds. Not sure if the ducklings and mature ducks were acquired from the same place.

Should I worry. I am going to keep them separate.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers for now.

Ann

bunyanuternie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 pm **Posts:** 2903

Hi Anne , I don't know if ducks can CRD Chronic Respitory Disease , That is a respiratory disease common in Chooks , but their will be somone on here that knows , Ian

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Hi,

You don't mention what age the ducklings were? Were they fully feathered but still young or were they not? If not they could have suffered from the cold/wet (even dew can get them cold and wet) and each suffered a respiratory infection leading to their death. Ducklings should be kept under lights until fully feathered. Were they getting a medicated crumble or were they fed with all the other ducks? If they weren't getting age specific feed they may have been getting progressively weak.

Ducks also suffer from botulism which they can get from either wet feed or scraps (and other sources)

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/l ... ck-disease

if some of the other ducks are also sick I would suggest keeping your birds well away from them until all respiratory problems have been cleared up and the pen thoroughly cleaned out including all water sources.

cheers

Ann@Nanango · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:48 pm

Hi Sebducks.

Yep these ducks were in an open sided shelter. They were in the open since they were brought home, still fluffy - no feathers - no heat source. I think they were just fed a general starter crumble. I did mention that they should have a source of warmth especially as the shelter opening faces up a hill and there were frosty mornings at times during the weeks preceding their demise.

They were feathered up by the time they succumbed.

I personally don't have ducks, but have chickens. Would CRD be transmitted between the two breeds? It's only the one duck (drake I think) who has the laboured breathing. The others seem OK.

Thanks for your reply.

Cheers for now.

Ann

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