Respiratory illness?

[Mar_ducks]

Hello,
I purchased 3 Pekin ducklings from tractor supply a week ago and they seem to be showing signs of respiratory illness.
2 of the 3 have slime coming out of their mouth on and off and also sound nasally on and off. All 3 have exhibited labored breathing/panting. I feel like I’m having a hard time getting the right temp for them down? They look to be about 2-3 weeks old and I’ve never had panting ducklings before. They were panting really bad this evening even though the room temp was at 75 and I had taken the light completely away from their bin. I brought them inside and the panting stopped (they ate and drank for awhile too) but their breathing still seems a bit labored while they’re sleeping.
Please advise for how I can try and treat the respiratory symptoms and for an ideal temp for Perkins at their age.
Btw - I’ve been supplementing their organic duck starter feed with nutritional yeast. I’ve seen them lay down a lot or trip and Wanted to make sure they get enough Niacin. About 1 tsp per 1/3 cup of food, a couple times a day. I also purchased Flock Shield Respiratory Aid and put some in their water tonight and sprayed some on the birds as instructed on the box.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I brought them inside and the panting stopped (they ate and drank for awhile too) but their breathing still seems a bit labored while they’re sleeping.

2 of the 3 have slime coming out of their mouth on and off and also sound nasally on and off.

I feel like I’m having a hard time getting the right temp for them down?

They were panting really bad this evening even though the room temp was at 75 and I had taken the light completely away from their bin.

Welcome To BYC

Hopefully @Jenbirdee @shawluvsbirds or @Yardmom can chime in with some suggestions.

If possible, please post photos of your Ducklings and the brooder/housing area. Including feed and water stations.
Thanks!

What are you feeding?

I do not have Ducks, so forgive me here. Do they have water deep enough to wash their Bills and nares? You mention slime coming from the Bills.

You took away heat, what was the temperature under the heat source?

They improved when you brought them inside. What is the temperature inside?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'd lean toward heat being part of the problem. Make sure they have plenty of space to get away from heating sources and plenty of ventilation too.

They ate/drank well after coming inside, were they drinking/eating when outside?

 

[Mar_ducks]

Welcome To BYC

Hopefully @Jenbirdee @shawluvsbirds or @Yardmom can chime in with some suggestions.

If possible, please post photos of your Ducklings and the brooder/housing area. Including feed and water stations.
Thanks!

What are you feeding?

I do not have Ducks, so forgive me here. Do they have water deep enough to wash their Bills and nares? You mention slime coming from the Bills.

You took away heat, what was the temperature under the heat source?

They improved when you brought them inside. What is the temperature inside?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'd lean toward heat being part of the problem. Make sure they have plenty of space to get away from heating sources and plenty of ventilation too.

They ate/drank well after coming inside, were they drinking/eating when outside?

Organic duck starter feed supplemented with nutritional yeast for extra niacin.
Someone was telling me to only do the starter feed for 2-3 weeks and then switch to lower protein food to help keep extra weight off their legs? (If not raising them as meat birds, which I’m not.)
The inside temp was 69. I put them back in their shed and turned the AC down to 72 (I have chicks in the shed too in a separate area and don’t want anyone TOO cold) and observed on and off overnight. I didn’t see anymore panting.
They were in a large tote which I upgraded today to a large kiddie pool so LOTS of space now. They did have an area to get away from the heat before but it wasn’t seeming to matter.
This morning when I checked on them there wasn’t any slime coming out of their mouths but they did sound nasally still.
Their water dish was deep enough for them to dunk their heads into but it was ending up very low or empty by the time I got to them in the mornings. I also upgraded to a much larger waterer too.
I started giving them Respiratory Flock Aid yesterday and will continue.

 

[Yardmom]

It sounds like you are on the right track with your ducklings. Often people are concerned about keeping young birds warm enough, but it is just as important to make sure the ducklings are cool enough. 3 week old ducklings are likely to be comfortable in similar temperatures as people are.

 

[Mar_ducks]

It sounds like you are on the right track with your ducklings. Often people are concerned about keeping young birds warm enough, but it is just as important to make sure the ducklings are cool enough. 3 week old ducklings are likely to be comfortable in similar temperatures as people are.

Thanks! I’ve raised 4 other breeds of ducks before but never Pekins. They’ve been a lot different so far. Do you happen to have any recommendations for how to further strengthen their legs? To me they seem to sit or lean on their “elbows” a lot more often than my previous ducks.

 

[Yardmom]

I have not done this with my ducks, but some add a liquid B complex to give them an extra boost in niacin.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Organic duck starter feed supplemented with nutritional yeast for extra niacin.
Someone was telling me to only do the starter feed for 2-3 weeks and then switch to lower protein food to help keep extra weight off their legs? (If not raising them as meat birds, which I’m not.)
The inside temp was 69. I put them back in their shed and turned the AC down to 72 (I have chicks in the shed too in a separate area and don’t want anyone TOO cold) and observed on and off overnight. I didn’t see anymore panting.
They were in a large tote which I upgraded today to a large kiddie pool so LOTS of space now. They did have an area to get away from the heat before but it wasn’t seeming to matter.
This morning when I checked on them there wasn’t any slime coming out of their mouths but they did sound nasally still.
Their water dish was deep enough for them to dunk their heads into but it was ending up very low or empty by the time I got to them in the mornings. I also upgraded to a much larger waterer too.
I started giving them Respiratory Flock Aid yesterday and will continue.

I can't say what or how you need to limit the feed since they are meat Ducks, but limiting feed can be helpful in extending life for a while.

My understanding is Pekins can have leg issues due to gaining weight quickly so giving the extra B Vitamins especially with Niacin is a good idea.

It does sound like they were overheating and I'm glad you were able to make some changes and they now seem to be doing a lot better.

 

[Jenbirdee]

Do you give them anything else to eat besides their feed?

 

[Mar_ducks]

Yes. They get outside time every day to forage (I live in a warm area) and I also give them peas and veggie scraps. Leafy greens, sliced up Brussels sprouts ends, etc. as well as the nutritional yeast.

 

[Jenbirdee]

Yes. They get outside time every day to forage (I live in a warm area) and I also give them peas and veggie scraps. Leafy greens, sliced up Brussels sprouts ends, etc. as well as the nutritional yeast.

Ok so you must provide a dish of chick grit in a separate bowl .