adult male running duck not walking so well

[Sandrachx]

i'm not sure if it's his age - he's 3.5 years old - or if it is something else. he just seems "out of steam" these days. when he walks, when he stands (totters) or when he runs. he also ran into a cattle fence the other day and just dropped to the ground. should i give him and my other 3 adults (2 male, 2 female) ducks some niacin?

 

[cymbaline]

I'm curious to see if anyone has any ideas for you. One of my boys has been acting sort of like this too. I started adding brewer's yeast to their food, but I haven't seen any improvement yet. He is fine otherwise...able to get in and out of the pool, swim, and mate with the girlies. I kinda thought it might be because he is pretty heavy for a mallard, and maybe his little legs weren't meant to hold so much, lol. None of my other ducks seem to have any trouble at all.

 

[Amiga]

With older ducks I would be thinking infection, parasites, or toxins. A duck vet is best, and we cannot always find or afford one.

So if it is a toxin, perhaps from swallowing metal, that is tough, but a start would be food grade activated charcoal supplement. It is said to bind to toxins. There is a sticky with a recommendation https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700526/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal#post_9508213

If it is parasites, them an antihelminthic (wormer) would be needed. I really know very little about that but you ought to be able to search the archives on that one.

For bacterial infection, some antibiotic - oral or injectable. Again, I am not expert, but you can get some kinds of antibiotics at feed stores.