Baby duck not doing well

belovetoo

Hatching
5 Years
Mar 17, 2014
6
0
7
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4 day old baby duck- came to me with straddle leg. She seems to be a bit better- a tad still straddled- but she is mostly sleeping. Not eating or drinking much at all- especially in comparison to her siblings. What do I need to do???
 
I'd start giving her some vitamins and electrolytes (like Sav-A-Chick). More info would be helpful: what kind of feed are you offering? Is she getting niacin supplements? Are there any other symptoms you've noticed, even if minor? What kind of brooder setup do you have her in?

You mentioned the splay leg issue - did she have a difficult hatch? I'm assuming you're already addressing the splay leg; this thread may be helpful, as it addresses the niacin, too: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/752953/ducklings-with-splayed-legs.

She's very cute. Hope she feels better soon.
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She is in a plastic container with pine shavings and heat lamp about 2 ft above her. I just tried to give her an electrolyte drink and some egg yolk for vitamins till I can get to the store. She wouldn't take either- and during the process her neck went completely limp- thought she was dead- then she came to and was fine. I had seen this earlier but thought it was a duck thing- wry neck???
 
She is in a plastic container with pine shavings and heat lamp about 2 ft above her. I just tried to give her an electrolyte drink and some egg yolk for vitamins till I can get to the store. She wouldn't take either- and during the process her neck went completely limp- thought she was dead- then she came to and was fine. I had seen this earlier but thought it was a duck thing- wry neck???
I'd take a syringe with out a needle ir a dropper and try dribbling some of the electrolyte water along her bill of just inside her bill {never down the throat] She may be dehydrated you could also try making a soupy mix of her crumble and warm water and try using syringe or dropper to get her to eat a little. She def needs to eat and drink very soon.
 
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She is in a plastic container with pine shavings and heat lamp about 2 ft above her. I just tried to give her an electrolyte drink and some egg yolk for vitamins till I can get to the store. She wouldn't take either- and during the process her neck went completely limp- thought she was dead- then she came to and was fine. I had seen this earlier but thought it was a duck thing- wry neck???
It sounds more like it could be "limber neck", which can be caused by botulism, to me. Leg weakness can also be a symptom: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/poultry/botulism/overview_of_botulism_in_poultry.html.

There are number of treatment options for botulism in this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/582306/how-to-treat-botulism.

If it's botulism, it's obviously serious and needs to be treated quickly.
 
Hmmm... I'm not seeing how this could be. Where would this baby duck have contracted it?? She was born in a home hatchery.
 
I didn't mention the feed- it's a local duck feed- with niacin in it- organic ground fine.

She took to drinking a bit and eating a bit of the egg yolk but then began to salvate at the mouth.
 
Hmmm... I'm not seeing how this could be. Where would this baby duck have contracted it?? She was born in a home hatchery.
There are a number of possible ways waterfowl can contract botulism - through food, water, wounds. This article has more info: https://www.beautyofbirds.com/botulism.html. Without testing, it would be difficult to pinpoint the cause (and the pathogen).
 
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I only seen your thread now...
Try this for the little ones....I make my Duckling food like this...I mix it in warm water so it is very watery..The feed will lay at the bottom of the bowl and they stick their entire faces in the water and eat up the food...I also mash up peas and add it to the mix...Provide granite grit for them also..She may have eaten some bedding? Always have a deep bowl of water so they can keep their nostrils clean...

Please update to her progress...Best wishes..

Cheers!
 

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