Anyone who can guess what's wrong with my ducklings?

[Eenris]

I have three ducklings that's approximately two and a half weeks old, and they all seemed to be healthy until yesterday. Yesterday morning, just after a meal, the biggest of those three, the all-black one, suddenly sat down and refused to stand up. I thought it was just tired or something cuz it was running around just fine minutes ago...but until today, right now, it won't stand up. It crawls with small jerky movements, even though I checked and saw that it could move its legs without problem.

Also, the second big one-the black one with yellow face, it's been moving in a strange way. It will gobble up some food, than suddenly walk backwards and shake its head, and walk stiffly forward to the food, and repeat. The smallest yellow one is not showing any symptoms yet. They all eat eagerly, drink eagerly, and poop normally.

I've been thinking of going to the vet, but here in Korea(yes, I live in Korea. Probably the reason why there's so many mistakes in my writing, but I can't fix them since I can't find them.) there's not a lot of vets that know anything about ducks. I've got to do something at home...and there's not a lot of choices...

I feed them three times a day, mainly cooked rice in water, vitamin(unsweetened multivitamin drops, for kids), dried mealworms and occasional fruits and veggies. The ratio would be something like rice : mealworms : fruits&veggies=6:3:1 , I think. In the pic, the cage seems dirty because it's right after meal, but I scrub the cage once in a week and change the white stuff(I forgot what it's called) on the bottom once a day or more. Also, I give them water five times a day, refilling the dish again and again until they are satisfied, and remove the dish immediately after they are done in order to avoid spilling and getting wet.

All the option I have is some charcoal, and some sort of multi-purpose antiviral drug for animal. Is there anything I've done wrong? Or is there anything I have to do?

P.S. thanks for reading all this, and also if there's any mistake in anything please tell me right away...

 

[Bellevue]

I noticed you have no replies so I thought I should reply. I am only learning about ducks and have only had mine for 1 and 1/2 years. I would suggest buying Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks. You should be able to get it online. It has sections on health and all sorts of things. I do not know what is wrong with your ducklings but ducks do not tolerate mold. Is the white stuff 'paper towel'? We used wood shavings and then straw. Change daily while they are little and confined. I would guess if it is wet paper towel with the lights you could be growing mould and bacteria. I am only guessing. I use to give my ducklings exercise time on a big beach towel in my sunroom just made a barrier. And it was not long before I gave them exercise in the backyard with fresh air and sunlight. Just put some chicken wire and star posts in the ground. I gave them a paint tray to play in, it is not deep and they can get in and out easy in a paint tray, just watch them closely while they are young and do not let them get wet and cold for long. Not sure rice is the best food??? Rice will also go mouldy quickly with the light bulb. We bought a starter mix for them to eat when they were ducklings. A chicken starter mix might work if you cannot get duck food. We did not give anything else till older. Avoid and medicated food or medicated products. Not good for ducks. We gave our ducks Berocca multi vitamins in water and the vet said this was good as we could not get bird vitamins. Is the light too hot??? Oh, I do hope someone with more experience will help you. Good luck.

 

[Bellevue]

Should have said avoid ANY medicated food...

 

[Eenris]

Those are not paper towels but the sheets my dogs use as toilets...ugh sorry bad english...
By the way, I'm not putting rice all the time...I take it out just after they're finished with it.
I've been trying to find reasons cuz that's the traditional way to raise ducks in Korea, but it didn't seem to work with mine...
Anyways, thank you for helping me!

 

[rachmickmurphy]

Could it be a vitamin d deficiancy bellevue?

 

[rachmickmurphy]

I use bran mixed with water to a mash and a starter but I don't think cooked rice would harm them it just might not have enough nutrients.

 

[Bellevue]

Could you try berocca and get them into natural sunlight and give exercise time. Sunlight will help them absorb vitamins and produce vitamin D. We found the berocca was good when one duckling developed a twisted neck. All resolved quickly with the berocca. Our vet said it was a good choice. Good luck!

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are lacking in essential nutrients, probably niacin which can be why your duckling isn't standing or walking niacin deficiency cause leg problems. They need a balanced diet which only a complete feed will give them especially when at this age and all the nutrients are being used to grow strong legs and healthy body. Can you find a store that sells chick or duckling feed? how are chicks raised in Korea? surely there is chick feed which would be much better for your ducklings and then add a vitamin to give them the extra niacin they need till around 12 weeks old. Do you give them a bowl deep enough for them to dunk their heads into so they can keep their eyes and nares washed out? this is very important also for ducks. Here is a link that will help you better understand the basics of duckling care. I hope your ducklings begin to get over this set back, I think if you can find some good feed that will be a start.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

 

[Daisgirl]

This is just a really random suggestion and I am no expert but could there be something in the pads you are using on the floor. As they are for toileting, could there be checmicals or something in there that when they get wet, with the heat in the lamp could evaporate into the air effecting the ducklings?

It is just that I know ammonia can effect the ducklings sometimes if not enough ventilation.

It is only a thought.

 

[Miss Lydia]

This is just a really random suggestion and I am no expert but could there be something in the pads you are using on the floor. As they are for toileting, could there be checmicals or something in there that when they get wet, with the heat in the lamp could evaporate into the air effecting the ducklings?

It is just that I know ammonia can effect the ducklings sometimes if not enough ventilation.

It is only a thought.

Very good suggestion and could be one cause but I really think diet is main cause here. I used pee pads under shavings when I had lone duckling in my house and no ill effects but he wasn't in his tote very much mostly in my arms.

and It was only 1 compared to 3 making a mess so you could be on to something.