Baby with crooked neck-PLEASE HELP!!!!!

[JTrag]

I just inherited a baby duck 3 weeks old. She was in perfect health until yesterday when I got home and noticed 90% of the time she is looking at the sky. I read the thread here and began giving her niacin and brewers yeast last night. She has only been like this for about 18 hours. This morning she seemed worse ...how long before I see results? could this be something other that crooked neck? She's eating and drinking fine, just has trouble walking around and swims in circles any help/encouragement is appreciated

 

[Amiga]

Sudden change like that at three weeks - I wonder if there was an injury.

Could she have fallen?

 

[JTrag]

I'm not sure - I have 2 ducklings Ina dog crate outside. I put them to bed and the next morning she was tilting her head ... She seems to be getting worse she walks in circles but is eating and drinking. She doss hold her head normally when she cleans herself and stretches. I have had her on niacin and Brewers yeast for a day and a half ... Should I give her vitamin e also? Not sure what to do for her. . She is so sweet and the other duckling cuddles with her. I would hate him to lose his friend

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm not sure - I have 2 ducklings Ina dog crate outside. I put them to bed and the next morning she was tilting her head ... She seems to be getting worse she walks in circles but is eating and drinking. She doss hold her head normally when she cleans herself and stretches. I have had her on niacin and Brewers yeast for a day and a half ... Should I give her vitamin e also? Not sure what to do for her.

. She is so sweet and the other duckling cuddles with her. I would hate him to lose his friend

What are the temps where you live ducklings need supplemental heat till feathered out could be combination of heat loss and vitamin dif. May take longer than a day an a half before you notice any change. But I'd make sure they are warm enough at 3 weeks they should be in temps of around 75* Don't let her be in water unless you supervise they can drown and chill very quickly when having health issues.

 

[JTrag]

Our night temperature is around 55 degrees, but I have been putting a heat lamp on them in the evening. I let them swim in a tub a few times and dried them off before putting them back, maybe she got a little chilled though. I put her in the tub in about 2 inches of water last night but she was having such problems that I quickly took her out I'm not going to let her swim again until she is better, it stress me (and her) out. I gave her some egg this morning and brewers yeast in her food and plan to pick up some vitamin E today on the way home from work. How much vitamin E should I give her? Can they overdose on vitamin E, niacin and brewers yeast? I'm really worried about her... I feel like I don't know what I'm doing....thank you for your help

 

[Miss Lydia]

Why are you giving niacin and brewers yeast that I would be worried about over dosing, do one or the other BY in their feed 1 tab to 1 cup of feed or niacin in their water mixed well 300 megs to 1 gallon at 3 weeks of age. vitamin E I haven't ever used so can't help you there but I'll see if i can find out. I think you dif need to keep them warmer what temp is their pen/brooder when you are using the heat lamp? I think if you can buy some Poly vi sol infant vitamins without iron and start giving that to her a couple drops in her mouth 2X a day. only inside her bill not down the throat .I've read alot of people have had good results using it. and I am going to see if @Lacrystol will give some advise.

 

[JTrag]

I was doing 100 mg of niacin in a gallon of water and a sprinkle of brewers yeast on their food (about a teaspoon to a cup of food). I hope that is not too much but am taking the advice of others and am a newbie at this... I also gave her part of an egg yolk for breakfast and dinner. She looked a lot better yesterday after noon. She is still holding her head strange but when she eats she now straightens her head. I have her and my other duck in the bathtub inside ... if it is a temperature problem wouldn't both ducks he suffering (the other duck is a mallard, not sure if that makes a difference)

 

[Miss Lydia]

I was doing 100 mg of niacin in a gallon of water and a sprinkle of brewers yeast on their food (about a teaspoon to a cup of food). I hope that is not too much but am taking the advice of others and am a newbie at this... I also gave her part of an egg yolk for breakfast and dinner. She looked a lot better yesterday after noon. She is still holding her head strange but when she eats she now straightens her head. I have her and my other duck in the bathtub inside ... if it is a temperature problem wouldn't both ducks he suffering (the other duck is a mallard, not sure if that makes a difference)

as long as it's warm where they are then temp probably isn't a problem .sounds like your doing fine with both niacin and Brewers yeast you could probably up the BY to 2 teaspoons to a cup of feed too, that is great news your seeing improvements!! it takes time but hopefully she'll make full recovery, keep us posted. As for why one duck would show a problem whether it be nutritional or sensitive to temps I haven't the foggiest, just seems it does happen with regularity catching it early is the most important thing. Your doing a great job.

 

[Terrinjeff]

Guys thanks so much for all the information i have one that was born last night and after reading all the input I feel better about my little one. I will be getting up early to head to the store before work to see what I can get my hands on then anything else I will pick up afterwards. I sure do feel better now!

 

[Amiga]

Ducks and ducklings can recover from all sorts of serious physical problems - with a good amount of TLC and the right supplements and treatments. Please keep us posted!