"Yes, I am the chicken who ruined her acting career by getting bad plastic surgery. I should have known it was a bad idea when the doctor kept calling the procedure a 'combover'."
They do have different dietary requirements, especially during their first four months. Ducks need more niacin than chickens and they need more access to water. They need water they can stick their whole head in. Not having enough niacin and b vitamins can cause leg problems. Duck feed is...
Fermentation involves wetting the feed and letting natural bacteria and yeasts start the process of breaking it down. Saurkraut is an example of a fermented food for humans. Others include kimchi, beer, sourdough, and yogurt. Fermentation improves the taste and makes the food easier to...
It might possibly be an opportunistic bacterial infection or a fungal infection, but proper nutrition should give your duck's immune system what it needs to fight it off if it is. I don't think ash would hurt, but i think good nutrition would help more.
I forgot to add to the earlier post...
Id say part of the problem is a vitamin deficiency. As the smallest he probably isn't getting a fair share of the food. Plus, ducks require more niacin than chickens. Liquid B vitamin complex is cheap, readily available, and can be added to a small amount of water-3 or 4 drops to a cup of...
An update, although not a particularly happy one.
The bill did show some improvement and had grown to cover his tongue by the end of June. It was shorter and lacked nares, but it was fairly functional. He was eating grass and free ranging with the others. Unfortunately, he didn't come in...