Blind ducks?

[CelticArche]

Hello. I bought 10 ducklings from Murray McMurray Hatchery and received them July 7 of this year. When we put them in the brooder we had set up, just for them, I noticed one was sort of walking in circles and bumping into our hands and peeping at us. At that time, we just assumed that it was because it was the runt of the group and was taking shelter near us.

It's now almost 8 weeks old, and we're wondering if it might be blind. There doesn't seem to be anything actually wrong with its eyes, the eyes aren't cloudy or look like they have debris of some kind in them. However, it easily gets left behind and will wander in circles, bumping bill first into anything from trees to the swimming pool to the cage. It will also, sometimes, end up stopping and calling until it hears the others respond for a period long enough that it can catch up.

Is there any way to actually tell if the duckling is blind?

 

[Pyxis]

Sounds like either a neurological problem or a vitamin deficiency causing neurological symptoms. I would try giving it some Poultry Nutri drench each day, a couple drops directly into its beak, and see if it improves any.

Is this duckling by any chance crested?

 

[chickens really]

It suffers from a condition where it's near sight is missing..Ducks and Chickens eyes are different...one is near sighted....other far sighted...Why they tilt their one eye up at us or at the sky....

 

[CelticArche]

Sounds like either a neurological problem or a vitamin deficiency causing neurological symptoms. I would try giving it some Poultry Nutri drench each day, a couple drops directly into its beak, and see if it improves any.

Is this duckling by any chance crested?

No. This little duckling is a Khaki Campell. It also walks kinda slow and oddly.

 

[CelticArche]

It suffers from a condition where it's near sight is missing..Ducks and Chickens eyes are different...one is near sighted....other far sighted...Why they tilt their one eye up at us or at the sky....

Is there anything that can be done to help it or tell for sure that it's nearsighted?

 

[chickens really]

Hmmmm? Cover the right eye first....That's the near eye

 

[Pyxis]

It suffers from a condition where it's near sight is missing..Ducks and Chickens eyes are different...one is near sighted....other far sighted...Why they tilt their one eye up at us or at the sky....

This is actually the first time I am hearing of this. I did know that chickens have two foveas, one of which is better at long distance vision and the other at close up, but I thought it was two in each eye(one of each kind), not that each eye had a different one. Could you possibly link me to somewhere that I could read more about this?

No. This little duckling is a Khaki Campell. It also walks kinda slow and oddly.

I suggested a nutrient issue because I once had a WH duckling that did the same thing - it would spin circles. Not all the time, just sometimes. It hatched with a nutrient deficiency, and treating that got it back to normal in a couple weeks. Other than the circles, it was fine, but had it gotten worse, it could have turned into a case of wry neck. Circling is often an early sign of a problem like that.

@Miss Lydia what are your thoughts on this?

 

[chickens really]

This is actually the first time I am hearing of this. I did know that chickens have two foveas, one of which is better at long distance vision and the other at close up, but I thought it was two in each eye(one of each kind), not that each eye had a different one. Could you possibly link me to somewhere that I could read more about this?



I suggested a nutrient issue because I once had a WH duckling that did the same thing - it would spin circles. Not all the time, just sometimes. It hatched with a nutrient deficiency, and treating that got it back to normal in a couple weeks. Other than the circles, it was fine, but had it gotten worse, it could have turned into a case of wry neck. Circling is often an early sign of a problem like that.

@Miss Lydia what are your thoughts on this?

No....I have no link on it.....Its what I have been taught from respected people....Could be wrong?......But yet it could be totally right?.....

 

[Pyxis]

No....I have no link on it.....Its what I have been taught from respected people....Could be wrong?......But yet it could be totally right?.....

Could be right! I just asked because I did a search and couldn't find anything saying that, so I thought you might have something I could read about it.

I'll run it by my avian vet the next time I'm there and see what he says

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am thinking Nutri drench would not hurt and could very well help along with using Nutritional yeast since nutrient def can also cause neurological and B3[niacin] def can cause leg and neurological issues. Do a few drops of the ND directly in the bill [Never down the throat because it could aspirate] and NY over their feed 1 Tab per cup of feed. Very important water fowl get the extra niacin in their diet when tiny if being fed chick starter because it does not have enough niacin in it to keep them healthy. Not all water fowl can hatch with this problem sometimes it shows up after a few weeks and not all water fowl will even have the need for extra niacin but that is something we never know and it's just best to make sure they have it right off till at least 10weeks old.
It could be vision related but I am still leaning towards nutrient def.
@CelticArche