Black Swedish duck suddenly lethargic & can’t stand

[KylaG]

I have three black Swedish ducklings. Guessing about 3 months old from what TC told us.

One has always been a little smaller than the other two, but eating, drinking, and keeping up just fine until today. She was laying sideways on the ground and can’t stand up. She drank some water but won’t eat and has a hard time holding her body up.

The whole flock was getting Purina All Flock pellets and changed to Manna Pro pellets once the Swedish were fully feathered. They get meal worms, peas, foraging bugs, etc. and have 24/7 access to clean water.

The only change in the last few months has been the grown girls (my other khakis) get crushed oyster shells and eggs shells. It’s a very small dish and the ducklings have never showed interest. I’m not sure if she ate some or if that would cause this.

I also read about a possible niacin deficiency but unsure if there are other signs or symptoms?

any help or ideas would be appreciated!

 

[Tookie]

So sorry you didn't get a reply! Did your Swedish make it?

The not standing up sounds like a niacin deficiency to me, but I don't think that would cause her to not eat. Could she have gotten into something poisonous or moldy?

 

[KylaG]

So sorry you didn't get a reply! Did your Swedish make it?

The not standing up sounds like a niacin deficiency to me, but I don't think that would cause her to not eat. Could she have gotten into something poisonous or moldy?

We lost her a few hours after she started acting weird, but I appreciate you checking in.

There were blister beetles in the run which another user said could be toxic if she ate them. Other than that, I don’t think there’s anything she could have gotten into. We are treating for the beetles just in case and the other hens all seem fine thankfully.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Very sorry for your loss.

 

[Tookie]

We lost her a few hours after she started acting weird, but I appreciate you checking in.

There were blister beetles in the run which another user said could be toxic if she ate them. Other than that, I don’t think there’s anything she could have gotten into. We are treating for the beetles just in case and the other hens all seem fine thankfully.

I'm so sorry you lost her.

Good luck treating for those beetles!

 

[DabblinDuckDabbler]

Awww.
I lost my little Welshie boy under a similar circumstance. When I let them out, he was lying down, not pushing to get out with the others. He got himself to the pool about 3’ from the cage, but just kinda scooted and then laid back down. The rest of the flock went on to their rounds, and he tried to keep up, but wound up coming back to the pool. I picked him up and looked him over, felt his crop, and saw nothing out of the ordinary and put him back down. He was gone less than a minute later. No warning - just fine, then slow, then gone.
I rescued him with another boy when they were abandoned at probably about 6wks - but he happily played in my yard and cut a fine form of drake for three months or so. The other boy and all my others are just fine.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Awww.
I lost my little Welshie boy under a similar circumstance. When I let them out, he was lying down, not pushing to get out with the others. He got himself to the pool about 3’ from the cage, but just kinda scooted and then laid back down. The rest of the flock went on to their rounds, and he tried to keep up, but wound up coming back to the pool. I picked him up and looked him over, felt his crop, and saw nothing out of the ordinary and put him back down. He was gone less than a minute later. No warning - just fine, then slow, then gone.
I rescued him with another boy when they were abandoned at probably about 6wks - but he happily played in my yard and cut a fine form of drake for three months or so. The other boy and all my others are just fine.