3 Month old Muscovy can't walk!!

[JustJandBlove]

Please help!! Max, our sweet 3 month old Muscovy, can't walk. About 5 weeks ago, we started treating him for niacin deficiency. He had a bout of it when he was young. Then about 4 weeks ago, we had a babysitter feed him the wrong food for about 4 days and when we got home, he couldn't walk. We checked to make sure he didn't have an injury like a slipped tendon. When he is in water, both legs work just fine. So now, after 5 weeks of extra peas, Durvet High Level Vitamin B Complex, nutritional yeast, and water therapy a few times a day, he can "walk" on his elbows. His feet are curled. He uses his wings and bill to help him around too. I want him to get better. I love this boy so much. I do not want him to suffer either. I need some advice. Has anyone else had a similar experience? What were the outcomes? Please, any help is appreciated. Thank you!!

 

[Stipenvlerk]

Poor Duck.. How much niacin are you supplementing?

 

[JustJandBlove]

We are adding about 70 mg via High Level B Complex 2x a day over peas with about 1.5 tbsp nutritional yeast over the top. We tried giving him 100mg 1x per day but he wouldn't touch it. We had to go the twice a day option. We are feeding Manna Pro Duckling/Gosling Starter still and adding Duck Boost or other water supplement with niacin.

 

[Stipenvlerk]

mmm... @Miss Lydia is the muscovy expert here. let's see what she suggest. Did you have a look at the position of the feet when you lift the duck? do they stay curled?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd make shoes to get his feet uncurled or buy them. To make them you can use cardboard or plastic from a coolwhip container or similar. Cut to size of his feet then wrap in vet wrap of medical take even duct tape would work, You just want to cover the sharp edges. Place the feet on the shoes and use vet wrap since it sticks to itself to wrap the feet on the shoes and up around the ankle going up the ankle will help keep them on.
When he is in water can he stand?
The standard dose of the Durvet Liquid B Complex is 1 ml daily you maybe overdoing on the B complex.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/
Any chance of a vet looking at him?

Is he eating well?
The only thing I can think of is a lot of water therapy to build up strength in his legs.
What was the food the babysitter fed him? Could it have been toxic to him?

 

[JustJandBlove]

He eats and drinks fine. He broke a blood feather so we have had him in an extra large dog kennel where he can still be with his sister and brother. We have it extra padded for him to relieve pressure and keep it clean and dry. He can move around and the sides are padded to protect his wings. I hold him up and help him stretch his legs whenever I can. I keep hoping we are doing the right, and best thing for him. The mere thought of losing him breaks my heart.

I'd make shoes to get his feet uncurled or buy them. To make them you can use cardboard or plastic from a coolwhip container or similar. Cut to size of his feet then wrap in vet wrap of medical take even duct tape would work, You just want to cover the sharp edges. Place the feet on the shoes and use vet wrap since it sticks to itself to wrap the feet on the shoes and up around the ankle going up the ankle will help keep them on.
When he is in water can he stand?
The standard dose of the Durvet Liquid B Complex is 1 ml daily you maybe overdoing on the B complex.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/
Any chance of a vet looking at him?

Is he eating well?
The only thing I can think of is a lot of water therapy to build up strength in his legs.
What was the food the babysitter fed him? Could it have been toxic to him?

Yes he can stand and move in water very well.
I will look into getting these shoes made ASAP. Thank you!!
Yes, there is an avian vet about an hour from here. We wanted to limit his stress level in the beginning. He had a problem with niacin as a baby and was acting the same way. After we started feeding him peas with nutritional yeast on them, he was fine. The food our babysitter gave him was a starter food for birds in general. Purina was the brand I believe. It may have been Manna Pro or Country Companion. I doubt it could have toxic because his sister and brother were eating the same thing. I think not being fed peas, or getting his fair share contributed as well.
He eats wonderfully. And drinks. It seems as though he is getting stronger every day but his feet curling has become a recent concern. Oh, as far as overdoing the B Complex, lol, I do the little extra because by the time you drizzle it over the peas, then sprinkle with nutritional yeast, he's probably only getting half of it. The rest coats the side of the bowl. I add a little water to it and he blows bubbles in it, sips some of it, then wants a drink of clean water and feeding time.
I believe that he has a genetic issue with vitamin absorption personally. We hatched these babies in an incubator from eggs that were at least 4 weeks old. Their mom started laying eggs in winter. We were meaning to toss them when she sadly and suddenly died. Out of the 3 of 16 that developed in the egg, only 1 hasn't had problems. She is just the walking definition of a teenager in a bird. Haha. The other male was runt. He was SOOO tiny. Half the size of the other two at 2 weeks old. We worked on gut biome issues with them and now he is a big and beautiful young man. Thriving.
Thank you again for your help!! I needed a little bump of encouragement today.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The starter shouldn't have hurt him other than not having enough niacin. Hopefully getting his feet straight keeping him on the B complex along with all your doing will get him back up and going. You are probably right about the vitamin absorption. Plus I wonder how much of the vitamins the feed no matter how good it is keeps the vitamin content where it says on the bag after going through high heat when being processed? Just a thought. Please keep us updated on how he is doing.
I am very sorry you lost their mama. Sure sounds like they are all 3 very much loved. You can also buy duck shoes made out of neoprene many places sell the eBay,Amazon, Crazy K. Many others I would imagine. They could get wet the homemade you would need to remove before water therapy.