Blind Duckling

[janastasio]

In my last batch of call hatchlings, we hatched just about all misfits! 2 with slight beak imperfections and one that is blind. We thought the cute spinning duckling was just something she would grow out of..... hmmm guess not. Now what to do with her. She is the favorite of everyone. We have named her spinderella! My mother is making her a skirt to spin in! Can the craziness go on any further!!? Anyone else ever kept a blind duck and how did you keep it, ie, house, outside , caged??? Thanks.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

WOW talk about bad luck. I'm sorry to hear that.

As far as a blind duck. I have a duckling that's 2 months old that's blind in one eye. She's a Crested Pekin and she was a rescue.

She does have problems but she's paired up with another duck who seems to be her eyes. They're never apart.

I hope someone can come along to help you with more info.

 

[duckyfromoz]

I have one at the moment...A little Runner about 10 days old...I have named it Stevie - Ray after the two blind musicians as this little one moves it head around the same way. I was very worried about him at first and tried to test in a few different ways how much sight he had. I have had ducks before missing an eye- but never one that was just blind. Sadly my little one has almost none or complete no vision at all. he is in the brooder with 7 others and seems to get around well enough to eat and drink. I plan to offer him to a special home later as I already have one disabled duck...But will keep him if a special home cant be found. He sits down alot rather than walking around with the others- and uses his beak alot to feel his way around the brooder. My little one doesnt spin around or act very different at all- and to look at he just is a little smaller than the others- and his blindness is not very obvious unless you watch him for a few minutes at least.

 

[janastasio]

Our duck simply spins in circles over and over and over! She wipes out her other cagemates in the process, so I know its stressfull. My unltimate to have her own pen and they have a harness that she can run aournd the hourse in until it becomes cage time. I also want to desighn a bag I can put her in with her feet dangling out and take places with me. Would be sooooos coooooooool!

 

[duckyfromoz]

Spinning is actually a symptom of Thiamine deficiency. Maybe your duckling is both blind and has a deficiency. Try giving some B group vitamins and see if it will help with the spinning.

 

[callducklover20]

There are a few things that cause spinning that I have seen in other animals, so I do kind of agree with duckyfromoz-she is great and has helped so many people on here. I had one caguya hatch last year that its eyes didnt seem ready yet-they were smaller and blue clouded, named that one Stevie too-lol-he developed eye sight about a week later and was fine after that, dont know what happened-hot spot/cold spot in the stryo incubator or what, I was just happy when I noticed he could see

 

[janastasio]

I have some sublingual lozenges from a very good vitamin company that I could disolve and give to her. Would this be appropriate for her? How much would I give her. Mine are a B6 complex. Thanks. I would be happy to try this and see if it helps. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Destmul80]

In my last batch of call hatchlings, we hatched just about all misfits! 2 with slight beak imperfections and one that is blind. We thought the cute spinning duckling was just something she would grow out of..... hmmm guess not. Now what to do with her. She is the favorite of everyone. We have named her spinderella! My mother is making her a skirt to spin in! Can the craziness go on any further!!? Anyone else ever kept a blind duck and how did you keep it, ie, house, outside , caged??? Thanks.

My duckling just turned blind, like in a second. One moment everything was fine, the next moment, she wouldn't stop crying, and she waved her bill back and fourth. I don't know what to do, but to comfort her, she is confused.i would like to make a sash, so that I can tie her to me, like a new born baby, because that's what made her stop crying, when I held her against me. That's how she feels secure. I don't know what to do at all. I'm dumbfounded, and very angry that this had to happen to such a sweet duck, that didn't diserve it. Right now she's in the house duck pen. It's in my living room, it's made of a baby crib, and a baby gate, with out legs. It's actually very creative, and neat looking. It works perfect. It's square, and it's safe. I can get some foam padding later. But she hasn't eaten. She will be right up to the bowl, with the others slurping, and she won't even crouch down to eat, so I take my fingers and did it in the food, and put it against her bill, she barely takes any, and shows very little interest. I'm confused. I don't know whay else to do then to force feed her with a sirenge, I mean if it will keep her alive. There's gotta be a different way a better way. Shesgot to get Hungary eventually. That's probably my only concern I can do the rest. I'll figure it out. Any ideas would be much appreciated though. This is crazy, I mean it just happened like three hours ago! Can you please help me! I want a sash to carry her in. I'm trying to make one, but I don't know what shape to make it. The only time she gets any sleep is if I'm holding her

 

[Miss Lydia]

How old is your duckling? I’m sure she is very confused and scared since she could see and now can’t. When one is blind or deaf etc the other senses kick in and help hopefully this will happen with your duckling. Place feed and water in the same place all the time then start out by calling the duckling you can whistle or a can with feed shaking it but getting it use to where feed and water is is important. Even a little meal worms crushed up in you hand if a very young duckling may help train it to where food and water is. Watch also that the other ducklings don’t trample over it since it won’t be able to see them coming

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/blind-duckling.348280/