Duramycin 10 and ducks what's a safe dosage

Please help. My daughters duck is not well.

We have two Pekin ducks who are approximately 2 1/2 weeks old. the one is breathing heavy and it has a hard time standing and moving about. I went to the store where I bought them at and the gal gave me duramycin 10 and then called the hatchery to ask if the ducks could have this. They told her yes. However the package doesn't say how much to give ducks. I did a search on here but it doesn't say how many ducks the dosage is for. And, do I only give medicated water? How often can they drink medicated water? I'm worried they will get over medicated as there is only the two. Also, I asked for duck food when we bought the ducks and the gal gave me chick starter and said that is all they needed until 8 weeks old. I did research on here and I'm still not sure about the duramycin but was shocked to see that the leg problem could be a niacin deficiency and They DO need food for ducks like I suspected because it has niacin in it which the chick starter doesn't. My husband went searching for duck food in town with no luck. so, he picked up some poultry conditioner made from MannaPro that has niacin in it and it calls for 2-3 tablespoons for ducks. So, I put some in their feed. Anybody with advice on the duramycin or the poultry conditioner? tomorrow I will be searching neighboring towns for duck food.

Hi,

I am not a vet or an antibiotic expert, but I found a couple of references from BYC in my notes.

One person said she used 1/4 teaspoon to 20 oz of water (2 1/2 CUPS). and kept the opened powder in the frij, mixing fresh medicine daily. This was for an adult duck attacked by a raccoon.

Another reported using half a tablespoon of Duramycin per gallon of water for a leg injury on an adult duck.

@casportpony may have more detailed information. I cannot find some of her posts right now, but I know she has said that you need to know how much the duckling weighs.

I will see if I can find what I am looking for. You could try sending casportpony a PM:

http://www.durvet.com/dl/Durvet-Poultry-Brochure.pdf

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/946812/lightbox/post/15051885/id/6821816

I need to step away for a while - will check back late tonight if possible.

Thank you for the contact name. I have sent a message. My poor duck is still the same. I'm not sure if the niacin fortified poultry conditioner is helping but my little duck is still eating and drinking just hasn't gotten better with the breathing or the walking.

For your food question, duck feed can be hard to get or can't get at all for a lot of us, if you can't find some Look for Purina Flock Raiser. I have had to use chick starter before with no problems. Niacin or Brewers yest should be added also since ducks tend to get leg issues if they lack it.

Thank you for the reply. Where do I get Brewers yeast? Is this something I will only find at a beer making supply store? I would like to start using it asap.

Actually, what is sold as brewer's yeast is not the active yeast brewers use. It is a nutritional supplement and can be found in places like big box grocery stores, you know, the giant chain stores, or GNC, or health food stores, sometimes even mom and pop type drugstores or grocery stores if there are still any around you.

I would call first - in some towns, the big stores carry it, in some towns they do not. and it can be ordered online. Remember the nutritional supplement, not the stuff to make beer, wine, or bread with.

Good to know. There are a few health food stores around in neighboring towns I will give them a call. So much to learn. I'm glad there is a place with so many helpful people. Thank you!
I did a lot more looking around and searches on here and have decided to go with the 200 mg dosage for our duck. I noticed while they are in our bathtub they drank so much water. I don't think they like the medicated water. I just hope the strength isn't too low/high. I just really don't know how much for a 2 1/2 week duck.

Giving it to them in water is a less than precise method, yet it is frequently used and seems to be effective enough that it is a common practice.

Please keep us posted on how things are going.

I got worried that our poor little duck wasn't breathing better so, I took it to the local vet even though our vet doesn't see ducks. Anyhow I'm totally confused. She gave me baytril she said that they have seen cockatiel birds and that is what they would prescribe to those birds. And, then she said to keep giving the medicated water with the duramycin 10 but at the 200 mg level. I asked won't that over dose it with two antibiotics and she said she didn't think so. So, then why wouldn't I just keep with the duramycin dose of 400 mg and forget the baytril? I called 3 hours away to ask a vet that sees ducks and she confirmed the baytril would be given to ducks but would have to check on the duramycin 10. Because she was unsure of that antibiotic. She wondered how they mixed the baytril tablets. And couldn't advise what dose I got was correct Because I have no clue as to how much water is in this little dropper bottle maybe 1 1/2 ounces. the dose says baytril 68 mg chewables (3 tablets) give 1 1/2 mls twice a day. And the vet I got it from, they are closed now so I can't ask the water amount the tablets were mixed in. Grrrr

Oh, mercy how frustrating!