i had purchased a duckling and two weeks later i woke up and it was fine walking around and everything. but i went downstairs for breakfast and left it in its cage and came back up maybe an hour later. he was laying there.. still alive but not able to stand up. we made the bathroom as warm as we could but it wouldnt eat or drink anything. about 30-45min he was gone. what could have caused this? was there anything that i should have done to prevent this?
2007-01-13 08:27:46 · 8 answers · asked by flow 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Ducklings (or any babies) have a high mortality rate. We raise chicks and ducklings and some always die- maybe heart problems, or just inferior genes. Some always die and it is your bad luck to be stuck with it.
Things to look at if not genetic- was it pooping ok? Constipation is pretty common.Was there a heat lamp (or temps above 60, where the cage was) If you didn't poison him somehow, it probably wasn't anything you did, and it just happened.
Actually- one thought- you said you were making breakfast- did you use older teflon pans? Older, or ones that were left to heat too long can release a lot of chemicals. The chemicals to make teflon are extremely deadly to birds- cause pretty much immediate death.
2007-01-13 08:41:59 · answer #1 · answered by D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm so sorry that happened... 2 weeks is long enough to get attached isn't it...
So sad, poor thing.
Ducklings are very sensitive, almost delicate creatures...
Different factors could've contributed to its demise.
I'm mostly thinking it could've been from where you got the duck...
perhaps it was something genetic or some birth defect you could not have seen.
Depending where you got him... Maybe there was some inbreeding or the 'gene pool' was too 'refined' and not hearty enough.
Gross question... did he poop alright? Alot of the time you can gauge the well being of a pet by how it's excretory system is working. If the duck had diarrhoea or a sore bum area (not clean, crusted with poop or raw and featherless) it could have been viral or something it ate or drank.
Not blaming you at all it could have picked up something from dirty water or somewhere else.
Anything you should have done?
As long as you gave him the proper feed with the right vitamins and kept the amount moderate to his size and...
Other than being diligently clean with whatever the duck came in contact with I don't think there was anything you could have done to prevent it.
2007-01-13 08:53:23 · answer #2 · answered by Gigi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
erm, i have never ever heard in my years of animal welfare work of purchasing a duckling, but whatever. In my experience with ducklings, I have to hand rear about 20 each year in the duckling season, if they get wet during the night, and they cannot dry quickly, they get very cold and start to lose energy and life. Then they cannot walk. The best thing then to do is run them a warmish bath, and give them a swim, then dry them gently with a towel, and put them near to a warm radiator or heater in a cage, making sure it is not too hot. Also, gently move their legs slightly to increase the circulation. Don't do this though, unless you are absolutely sure that you know what you are doing.
I am very sorry for your loss. I get very upset and angry when any of the ducklings I hand rear die. It is very sad and hard to get over. It probably wasnt your fault, but at least you will know what to do next time. Also, my theory doesn't always work, its an intense period of time, and you need to spend literally every second with them. I have still lost ducklings do my theory, sometimes you just cant save them, most vets will usually put them to sleep anyway, so they aren't usually much help!
Sorry. x
2007-01-13 08:36:49 · answer #3 · answered by Little Red Riding Hood 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it wasnt because of genetic defects as Danielle said, was the duckling able to pick at the carpet?
The carpet conatins lots of nasty chemicals fatal to ducks, they die quickly and painfully as they are poisoned. Also frothing at the mouth is an indication of poisoning.
2007-01-13 09:12:55 · answer #4 · answered by Krystle 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't think you could have prevented this. What was the nesting material in the crate? That is all that I can imagine.
2007-01-13 08:35:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
aww, sins answer is so sweet! i'm thoughtless on the duck - that occurs often times you recognize. the picture of the duck is enlightening to me - one small ripple in a pond, creates thousands of alternative ripples.
2016-12-02 05:35:44 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ugliness
2007-01-13 08:32:57 · answer #7 · answered by lucyanddesi 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I had a duck he flew away i was younger and cry ed he probanly got seen by a bird and it was his mom or he was eaten OR he is hiding!
2007-01-13 08:33:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋