Cayuga duckling having seizures

[CayugaJana]

I have a ~3.5 week old female cayuga duckling named Blackberry that has had a couple seizures. My husband witnessed one at around 2 weeks old and I did tonight. Each time has been at night when it's dark and we go to check on them. My husband flipped on the light in the shed and she started having a seizure for a little under a minute. I had pretty much the same experience only I had a flashlight and didn't turn on the overhead light. It seem like when she gets surprised it happens. She acts normal in every other aspect. Eats normal, poops, normal, walks/runs fine. There is no mistaking what we saw. We both are very aware of what they look like.

Other things to note, we've had another female cayuga named Little Foot have a seizure but it was the day we got her in the mail and she was stressed from shipping. But since is fine after some TLC. No other seizures that we are aware of.

They eat crumbles that are specially for ducklings, but can't remember the brand at the moment. I have started putting a liquid poultry vitamin mix in their water. But was gone this last week for work and asked the hubs if he remembered to put the vitamins in their water. And he didn't.
They are inside a temperature controlled shed. There are six cayugas total. 1 drake, 5 ducks. Other than a vitamin deficiency or genetics, I can't think of a reason she is having them. And the light quickly coming on is the trigger. Does anyone else have any good ideas?

 

[CayugaJana]

Forgot to mention, they come outside for supervised play for an hour or two several times a week. They like eating worms we dig up, bugs, snails, a few mealworms etc. We don't give them grit when they go outside but that's because I can see them finding it on their own.

 

[chickens really]

Yes, the light can trigger a seizure....Can you put in a night light?.....Poor Duckling....Hopefully it's nothing too serious....

 

[CayugaJana]

I can probably do that. Hadn't thought of it. We have lots of night lights. Both times we were going out there to turn the heat lamp on because it gets really hot during the day and so we turn it off. I'm hoping it's like children where they grow out of it.

 

[chickens really]

I can probably do that. Hadn't thought of it. We have lots of night lights. Both times we were going out there to turn the heat lamp on because it gets really hot during the day and so we turn it off. I'm hoping it's like children where they grow out of it.

At this age they can also go without the heat lamp....Try the night light....Best wishes....

 

[Iain Utah]

I have an ancona drake who is almost 6 years old who had seizures like you describe, mostly between 3-12 weeks old. We haven't seen one since he hit maturity.

 

[CayugaJana]

Thanks! I put the night light in there and she hasn't had one when we go in there in the dark. I've also tried to call them when I'm outside the shed so she doesn't get startled.

I'm really hoping that's what it is @Iain Utah.

 

[Seatownduckmama]

Hi - hoping folks are still responding to this. I too have a 3.5 week old Cayuga girl who seemed to have a seizure or a stroke or fainted - something scary - this morning. She tipped/fell over on her back and did the bicycle feet/wing flap they do when on their backs but then she went completely stiff - her legs and body were rigid and she seemed unconscious for a second. I picked her up and cradled her like a baby and talked to her.
Then she blinked but still couldn't move. eventually she started to unfreeze and her eyes teared a few times. She didn't seem to be in pain (other than the tears?). She kind of snuggled into me and hid her face under my arm.
In about 5 minutes she was back to normal, standing/walking fine, looking around etc. Has been fine the rest of the day.
It seems like she frightened herself into this state...and I'm still not sure what it would be called (Seizure/faint etc).
She has 2 sisters the same age, no issues.
Anyhow, any insight would be great - thanks!

 

[chickens really]

Possibly a scare?....Does it have a crest on its head?...

 

[CayugaJana]

That is exactly what it is and you described it perfectly. She was having a seizure. And my ducks have grown out of it. I have a feeling that sometimes their nervous systems aren't fully developed yet and some sort of overstimulation can cause it. But as their nervous systems develop, it goes away. Let me know if you have anymore questions.