baby duck with lots of problems

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pattyhen

pattyhen

Chicks Ducks oh my
15 Years
Apr 20, 2007
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Our mother duck hatched her babies May 14th and we noticed this little one that was always on his back. He is the only one out of the group that has a huge top knot. On the top of her head is a brown growth it doesn't look like a scab it looks like a small tumor. His beak has a small cut in it also across the top. He can't hardly keep his balance he keeps flipping over on his back. We tried putting vet wrap on his legs to see if that would help but all he does is crawl with that on. I bought brewers yeast and all they had was the pills. We ground them up and put half a pill in his water. He drinks allot but just nibbles on the food so that's why we put the brewers yeast in the water. We've got him in the house with a light on him and he's on a towel in a cage. He spends most of his time on his back unless I wrap him in a towel or hold him.

My grandson is charging his phone so I can take pictures of him so you all can see what he looks like.

Can someone please help us? Thank you so much.

Patty
 
pattyhen said:
Our mother duck hatched her babies May 14th and we noticed this little one that was always on his back. He is the only one out of the group that has a huge top knot. On the top of her head is a brown growth it doesn't look like a scab it looks like a small tumor. His beak has a small cut in it also across the top. He can't hardly keep his balance he keeps flipping over on his back. We tried putting vet wrap on his legs to see if that would help but all he does is crawl with that on. I bought brewers yeast and all they had was the pills. We ground them up and put half a pill in his water. He drinks allot but just nibbles on the food so that's why we put the brewers yeast in the water. We've got him in the house with a light on him and he's on a towel in a cage. He spends most of his time on his back unless I wrap him in a towel or hold him.

My grandson is charging his phone so I can take pictures of him so you all can see what he looks like.

Can someone please help us? Thank you so much.

Patty
Click to expand...
You mean he is crested? also make a towel into the shape of a donut place the baby down into it head up to keep him off his back. you'll have to help with food and water but it does keep them from flipping. How long has he been on the BY?

Might be better to get some Poly Vi So with out iron and give that to the little one 1 drop directly in the mouth not down the throat. I don't usually advocate baby vitamins but in cases like this they can help alot faster. A pic will help alot though.
 
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Thank you so much for the reply. I am going to get those vitamins today I hope I can find them. He is crested that is what I meant by the top knot. He's only been on the brewers yeast for a half a day. He seems to be a little weaker today he's losing all his mobility. He eats a little while I hold him then I switch to the water. It's going to take a miracle for this little one to pull through this.
My grandson left before he took the pictures of the duck. I wish I could post some of him. I'll try again when he gets back today,.

By the way we named him Turbo and thanks again for your reply.

Patty
 
pattyhen said:
Thank you so much for the reply. I am going to get those vitamins today I hope I can find them. He is crested that is what I meant by the top knot. He's only been on the brewers yeast for a half a day. He seems to be a little weaker today he's losing all his mobility. He eats a little while I hold him then I switch to the water. It's going to take a miracle for this little one to pull through this.
My grandson left before he took the pictures of the duck. I wish I could post some of him. I'll try again when he gets back today,.

By the way we named him Turbo and thanks again for your reply.

Patty
Click to expand...
Shouldn't be hard to find Poly Vi Sol it is in the baby isle in most stores, even store brand will work just don't get the one with iron. Bless his heart crested ducklings can really have serious neurological problems but many over come them. Are either parents crested?
You have your work cut out for you but sounds like he is much loved. Please keep us updated
hugs.gif
 
I got the poly vi sol vitamins without the iron. He's had his first drop now with his brewers yeast crushed tablet in his water. He's eatting his chick starter and drinking. I've got him in a box next to me here so I can keep him from flipping upside down. I'm going to try the towel to see if that will help him to stand up right.

We do love him and we are trying our best to keep him alive and get him well. Does he get the vitamins once a day?


Thanks so much for all your help I will keep you posted on how he's doing. I almost forgot to answer your question about the crest. His mother is not crested but we have several male ducks that are. I don't really know which one is the dad.

Patty
 
I finally got pics of Turbo. The first one shows how he flips and the second one you can see that brown spot in his crest if you look close. The third one shows his beak thats cut. I think the momma duck did this to him. It was her first hatch and she was pretty nervous when we approached the nest.

He went a half an hour in his box here without flipping which is good for him. He's up on his dishtowel now taking a nap.

Patty
 
pattyhen said:
I finally got pics of Turbo. The first one shows how he flips and the second one you can see that brown spot in his crest if you look close. The third one shows his beak thats cut. I think the momma duck did this to him. It was her first hatch and she was pretty nervous when we approached the nest.

He went a half an hour in his box here without flipping which is good for him. He's up on his dishtowel now taking a nap.

Patty
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That is a huge crest for such a tiny tot. and that cut goodness bless his heart. Okay 1drop 2X a day. If they act the least bit abnormal sometimes mama will get confused and hurt them even kill them. I had a Muscovy duck with her first hatch try and kill her duckling she had bit him all around his head, we had to take him and bring him inside. You just never know. Good that lil Turbo is eating and drinking that is a good sign. if you have something like tripe antibiotic or Neosporin you could spread some on his bill nothing with pain relief in it though.Is he in the donut in the pic.? Under neath that crest is open skull so you have to be extremely careful with him when he goes around the other ducks that they don't peck him there. Or he never gets a conk on the head.

Wanted to share this story with you. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/857143/treating-wry-neck-in-crested-duckling-edited-title
Just for encouragement.
 
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That was a beautiful story about Quackers. She certainly preformed a miracle with him. I hope turbo pulls through this. I am going to get him some selium tomorrow and I will up the dose of the polyviso to twice a day.


I mixed his chick starter with applesause and he gobbled it down. He hasn't given up and I'm not either. I'll keep you updated on how he's doing. I did put the neo on his beak. Poor little thing has been through alot in his 3 days of life.

Patty
 
pattyhen said:
That was a beautiful story about Quackers. She certainly preformed a miracle with him. I hope turbo pulls through this. I am going to get him some selium tomorrow and I will up the dose of the polyviso to twice a day.


I mixed his chick starter with applesause and he gobbled it down. He hasn't given up and I'm not either. I'll keep you updated on how he's doing. I did put the neo on his beak. Poor little thing has been through alot in his 3 days of life.

Patty
Click to expand...
So great to hear he is eating so good. He sure has been through alot but he sounds like a trooper. and you do to.
smile.png

Look forward to hearing how he is doing.
 

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