A runt duckling?

[rlmitchell]

Hi everyone! The new duckies are doing great, but I have one that is SO much smaller than the others. He just doesn't seem to be growing nearly as fast as the other 3.

We bought them at the Feed & Seed and we have no idea what sex they are. They were about the same size when we got them but now 3 of them have grown SO much and this other one....poor thing is just so little! I hope nothing is wrong! He acts like the others and eats like he has never seen food before.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi everyone! The new duckies are doing great, but I have one that is SO much smaller than the others. He just doesn't seem to be growing nearly as fast as the other 3.

We bought them at the Feed & Seed and we have no idea what sex they are. They were about the same size when we got them but now 3 of them have grown SO much and this other one....poor thing is just so little! I hope nothing is wrong! He acts like the others and eats like he has never seen food before.

Get some poultry vitamins and start adding them to their water and don't forget to start adding Brewers yeast or niacin[ plain 100-150mgs] to their food or water if feeding chick starter. Ducklings need more niacin than chicks so supplementing with niacin will help ward off any leg problems that may arise.

 

[rlmitchell]

Thank you. I'm going to do that. I have also been feeding them tons of lettuce, which I hear is high in niacin? I just worry about the little one not growing when he is getting the same stuff as the others I hope I'm just worrying for nothing. He's starting to get crowded out at meal time by the bigger ones so I do a lot of hand feeding him (and gosh, doesn't he love to eat!).

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you. I'm going to do that. I have also been feeding them tons of lettuce, which I hear is high in niacin? I just worry about the little one not growing when he is getting the same stuff as the others I hope I'm just worrying for nothing. He's starting to get crowded out at meal time by the bigger ones so I do a lot of hand feeding him (and gosh, doesn't he love to eat!).

Veggie are very important but a good feed which has balanced nutrients is very important also. maybe have 2 feeding stations available because you don't want him being left out when it comes to eating.