free range possum
Chirping
- Oct 30, 2019
- 65
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I absolutely agree. If I transport even adult ducks I take either water melon rind, canteloups and or tomatoes and pulse them in a processor until like a chunky salsa, but I chill it while getting crate ready and birds loaded, no mater if bator is or adults, and take a gallon zip lock for new "mom" to offer birds a little after they get settled down in new home. I suggest offering this for 10 minutes, take away 15 minutes, offer again for a few minutes for first hour. Then leaving some in regular chick waterer (if babies) or regular water device so they can I'd it and the salsa slows consumption down and helps them transition with stress in new home as well as see new "mom" as the treat giver as I was. Tragic yes and I'm sorry. They get this if it's only a 15 minute ride. They drink so much it goes to their lungs and much quicker death than electrolyte inbalance, if it's any solace to you. The sudden death is the drowning. With all the crazy weather and temps/rain all over the place I bet your other babies you did this with successfully were either born a little earlier when it was cooler, or these had been in a restricted area and you let them at the water on hottest part of the day and previous clutches you watered earlier in cooler part of day. A older hen, say 3, will clutch later near summer since she's getting a better sense of the weather patterns and wants to avoid flooding. Just my o servant ion of my ducks and the wild ones
I have seen this many times in my own flock. If ducklings are allowed to drink too much cool water too quickly, they start to walking oddly and unless you get them warm quickly, they die.
The first sign that this is happening is they will start to stagger like they are drunk. If you can catch them at this stage, and get them warmed up, it is possible to save them.
