concerned about my pekin

[allgoaton]

This is Phoebe, about a month old:




I am concerned about her feet. While it isn't always this dramatic, look at how she is standing. I supplement with Brewer's yeast and her feet are just still messed up. She can get around but not extremely well. I will attach more pictures as well as potentially try to get a video.

This duck also has been have watery poops that are mostly white, and she is also a lot dirtier than the others and when I picked her up today she seemed to be covered in wet poop more than the others... I'm not sure if she is just not quite getting the hang of preening as well as the others yet or if there is something wrong.

She acts pretty much completely fine. Has fun swimming, gets super excited for treats, chirps and quacks. No behavior issues from what I can tell, but the walking and the watery poops has me concerned. I just want her to be okay.

 

[allgoaton]

More pictures:

 

[Amiga]

Have they had any chick grit yet? What is their feed and feeding schedule?

Just a guess - do they share the same bowl? I would put another bowl in - she may be shoved away from the food by the others.

Also, give her some treats, just her (if she has had grit) - like peas. It's easy to identify coming out - just to kind of check her throughput.

 

[allgoaton]

Their food is flock raiser cut with oats with chick grit sprinkled on top (about a tablespoon's worth, about) with about 4 tablespoons of brewer's yeast a day. They do share the same bowl -- I've never seen her get pushed, but I supposed it's possible. Are you saying its possible she isn't getting enough food? They have food available to them all the time (except for the rare occasion where they run out over night, which has only happened a few times), the bowl is thoroughly washed and dried once a day. At least once a day they also get pickings at dirt/grass and have a chance to go for a swim, still supervised all the time.

Looking at baby pictures, I'm wondering if it is possible the foot thing is a birth defect? Does that happen? Here she is at under a week old, the foot is slightly turned in then as well.

 

[Amiga]

Yes, foot problems are not uncommon. She could have a few problems with her development. I try to go with optimal temperature, food and water, bedding, attention, then vitamins if they seem needed, and sometimes a brace can be helpful.

Elfie was a couple weeks behind in development for her first six months or so. She's fine now.

 

[allgoaton]

Thanks! I think I might switch to niacin in the water once we are out of brewer's yeast to see if they get that in them better. I also may start feeding Phoebe separately from the gang to make sure she is getting some into her. She has grown WAY faster than the rest of the gang, she reminds me of a puppy who trips over its own too big feet. They get clean bedding once a day and still have their heat lamp to cuddle under.

I have poultry vitamins we used their first day or two after shipping, would adding some to their water now be helpful? I'm glad her situation doesn't seem like it seems TOO worrisome.

 

[Amiga]

I would give vitamins once a week.

And I would try, if she is happy to visit without her sibs, giving her some extra food, maybe some softened with water.

Hmmmm. Far out idea - might she have hurt her bill or throat and it is painful to eat? I read about that once. Watch her eat . . . see if she winces. Or has trouble swallowing.

 

[allgoaton]

Hm, she eats fine as far as I have observed. I gave everyone treat today and she was just as in to them as everyone else. I'll try some personal time with some food for her as well as put some vitamins in their water tomorrow and keep it up if all goes well. I'm hoping the loose stool is just a fluke thing and that she'll eventually outgrow the foot issue. I really hope so.