URGENT HELP WITH DUCKLINGS AND MUM

[lauraducks]

One of my female ducks hatched 4 ducklings in the early hours of Monday morning (2 days ago). I separated mum and ducklings from the rest of the flock, and I have put them inside with a heat lamp so they don't get too cold overnight. I keep them in there during the day too as I don't want to stress mum or babies by moving them every day. This morning I have come to find two ducklings are dead, and I think at least one of them has a broken neck. Should I remove mum from the pen and return her to the flock, leaving the two other ducklings on their own, or should I return mum and ducklings to their outdoor shed and shut them in? Please help!

 

[tillybilly]

Are you sure the neck is broken? Usually, when any bird is dead their neck looks broken.

I would keep the other two separated, just in case of any diseases. Unfortunately, sometimes chickens/ducks suddenly die after hatching because they just aren't strong enough, just like some humans at birth or after.

I could try and give a specific diagnosis but really there's not much you can do. Just keep an eye on the others and watch their behavior.

Best of luck for healthiness.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC. How are the ducklings doing?

 

[Elizabett]

One of my female ducks hatched 4 ducklings in the early hours of Monday morning (2 days ago). I separated mum and ducklings from the rest of the flock, and I have put them inside with a heat lamp so they don't get too cold overnight. I keep them in there during the day too as I don't want to stress mum or babies by moving them every day. This morning I have come to find two ducklings are dead, and I think at least one of them has a broken neck. Should I remove mum from the pen and return her to the flock, leaving the two other ducklings on their own, or should I return mum and ducklings to their outdoor shed and shut them in? Please help!

 

[Elizabett]

I don't know where you live but where we live it is just too cold. Ducklings have a hard time keeping their heat up as baby ducklings. I don't know if the mother's body heat is enough or if she is keeping them warm. We have a huge livestock tub and put them inside with a heat lamp. It needs to be about 95 degrees. We checked our small chick coop and with the heat lamp we couldn't get it over 50 degrees. I think we are keeping them in until they are at least fully feathered about 8 weeks. They are messy things They seem more fragile than baby chicks despite growing rapidly

 

[lauraducks]

Are you sure the neck is broken? Usually, when any bird is dead their neck looks broken.

I would keep the other two separated, just in case of any diseases. Unfortunately, sometimes chickens/ducks suddenly die after hatching because they just aren't strong enough, just like some humans at birth or after.

I could try and give a specific diagnosis but really there's not much you can do. Just keep an eye on the others and watch their behavior.

Best of luck for healthine

Are you sure the neck is broken? Usually, when any bird is dead their neck looks broken.

I would keep the other two separated, just in case of any diseases. Unfortunately, sometimes chickens/ducks suddenly die after hatching because they just aren't strong enough, just like some humans at birth or after.

I could try and give a specific diagnosis but really there's not much you can do. Just keep an eye on the others and watch their behavior.

Best of luck for healthiness.

I can't be sure the neck was broken, but it was much looser than the other one's neck. Unfortunately the other two ducklings passed the following night. I don't have experience with ducklings and suddenly found myself with four of them so I wasn't sure what the best course of action was. I left the other two with mum but I don't think mum let them under the lamp because she had four other eggs. In the future I think I will bring the ducklings inside without mum.

 

[lauraducks]

I don't know where you live but where we live it is just too cold. Ducklings have a hard time keeping their heat up as baby ducklings. I don't know if the mother's body heat is enough or if she is keeping them warm. We have a huge livestock tub and put them inside with a heat lamp. It needs to be about 95 degrees. We checked our small chick coop and with the heat lamp we couldn't get it over 50 degrees. I think we are keeping them in until they are at least fully feathered about 8 weeks. They are messy things They seem more fragile than baby chicks despite growing rapidly

I live in the UK. I did supply them with a heat lamp but unfortunately I don't think that was enough with mum in there, as she had four other eggs which I think took priority for her.

 

[lauraducks]

Welcome to BYC. How are the ducklings doing?

They all passed unfortunately. I feel so awful and guilty. Next time I'll probably keep them separated from mum.