4 week old duckling going lame?

[Dairyguy100]

i currently have 2 yellow duckling that came from TSC, both off to great start and getting along fine with my chicks. Now, as of Thursday or Friday, my one duckling can’t seem to stand and walk on it’s own. I tried lifting it up and it will stand but falls on it’s stomach when it tries to take a step. The only way it moves is by paddling its feet and pushing itself across the shavings. And obviously it doesn’t travel very far in a day. But it still eats and drinks. Still has movement in legs. It’s almost like it’s body is growing too fast that it’s leg muscles can’t keep up. I’m currently feeding DuMor 20% chick starter which can be fed to ducks. I went back to TSC for some advice and got not much help. Debated giving it some calcium or something to increase muscle and strength. Any advice would be helpful.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Don't give calcium, that will hurt rather than help.
They likely need more niacin than is in the chick starter. And while there is sufficient tryptophan in the feed for both ducklings and chicks, ducks can't make niacin from tryptophan as efficiently as chickens so they need more niacin supplemented in their food.
You can use human grade dried brewers yeast or anything else high in niacin. Or perhaps a crushed niacin tablet. But you have to get some more niacin in this one immediately or permanent damage can result. There are good instructions in the following link.
https://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-my-ducklings-leg-problems-due-to.html

You have discovered yet another reason not to seek nutrition or health information from feed store employees. They don't know anything about poultry. Even if they give an answer, it will likely be wrong.
They know where the feed is stored but none are poultry nutritionists nor have been to vet school.