Could use some advice

[Apyl]

Ok so I had my first hatch of the year and 4 our of 6 eggs hatched. I didnt think the other two would since they were frozen when I collected them, so no biggie. Anyway on the last night of ducklings hatching my humidity went down below 50%. The last two ducklings had a hard time hatching, I ended up helping one of them and that baby is doing just fine. The very last one ended up hatching on its own ( well I put wet paper towel around it to keep the membrane wet and humidity up. This one was born with a unhealed naval (which is almost all healed now) its neck was originally really weak (but again thats 95% better now). The problem is its legs. The duckling kicks its legs like crazy but just cant fold them up under it. One leg turns out and the other straight back behind it. So basically its like a severe case of spraddle leg. I tried to bring them together, but the baby just layed on its belly with its legs sticking straight out behind it. So I took the bandaid off. Baby is eating and drinking when I put its head near the food and water. I do have sav-a-chic in the water, and they are on flock raiser. The baby is 24 hours old.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok so I had my first hatch of the year and 4 our of 6 eggs hatched. I didnt think the other two would since they were frozen when I collected them, so no biggie. Anyway on the last night of ducklings hatching my humidity went down below 50%. The last two ducklings had a hard time hatching, I ended up helping one of them and that baby is doing just fine. The very last one ended up hatching on its own ( well I put wet paper towel around it to keep the membrane wet and humidity up. This one was born with a unhealed naval (which is almost all healed now) its neck was originally really weak (but again thats 95% better now). The problem is its legs. The duckling kicks its legs like crazy but just cant fold them up under it. One leg turns out and the other straight back behind it. So basically its like a severe case of spraddle leg. I tried to bring them together, but the baby just layed on its belly with its legs sticking straight out behind it. So I took the bandaid off. Baby is eating and drinking when I put its head near the food and water. I do have sav-a-chic in the water, and they are on flock raiser. The baby is 24 hours old.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

I'd start them on Niacin, plain no time release or flush free, actually anyone incubating duck eggs should have the niacin ready to add upon hatch, it's very crucial to their neurological and skeltial development,. Don't wait start now and keep it up for 12 weeks every day, 100-150mgs to one gallon of water.

This link will take you to advise on how to do hobbles and hopefully you can use them on your duckling.. scroll down till you come to leg problems https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

 

[Apyl]

I'd start them on Niacin, plain no time release or flush free, actually anyone incubating duck eggs should have the niacin ready to add upon hatch, it's very crucial to their neurological and skeltial development,. Don't wait start now and keep it up for 12 weeks every day, 100-150mgs to one gallon of water.

This link will take you to advise on how to do hobbles and hopefully you can use them on your duckling.. scroll down till you come to leg problems https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

Thanks, but I highly doubt its a niacin issue. It was just hatched yesterday and still have the yolk nutrition in it. I have had not had any issues using Flock Raiser without niacin with multiple sets of baby ducks as well as my flocks of full grown ducks. I chose this feed after Dave Holderead stated Flock Raiser does not need extra niacin as it has sufficient amounts to raise waterfowl. Thank you for the link I will check it out. The issues is, even with the legs in hobbles they just stick straight out behind it.

 

[Amiga]

Ditto Miss Lydia

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay I haven't had an issue with using FR either and have had many duckling hatch here, BUT if one of mine was having a problem I think I would start the niacin just because it could help. it's inexpensive and worth a try especially till it gets some strength going on it's own. and gets it's legs up under it correctly. I had one lone duckling I had to brood myself because mama didn't want him, I used Brewers yeast on his feed daily till he was 12 weeks old, he wasn't having any problems but I didn't want him to either, He was growing so fast.

 

[Apyl]

Okay I haven't had an issue with using FR either and have had many duckling hatch here, BUT if one of mine was having a problem I think I would start the niacin just because it could help. it's inexpensive and worth a try especially till it gets some strength going on it's own. and gets it's legs up under it correctly. I had one lone duckling I had to brood myself because mama didn't want him, I used Brewers yeast on his feed daily till he was 12 weeks old, he wasn't having any problems but I didn't want him to either, He was growing so fast.

Thank you, for explaining why you were suggesting the niacin. I have liquid vitamin B like suggested on Metzers site ( I think it was Metzers, I would have to find the site again). I live in the boonies and 30 miles from the nearest crappy grocery store. I could not find niacin or brewers yeast last year but did find the liquid B. Do you think I should add the B to the water. Also how much? Or should I just give it a drop in the mouth?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you, for explaining why you were suggesting the niacin. I have liquid vitamin B like suggested on Metzers site ( I think it was Metzers, I would have to find the site again). I live in the boonies and 30 miles from the nearest crappy grocery store. I could not find niacin or brewers yeast last year but did find the liquid B. Do you think I should add the B to the water. Also how much? Or should I just give it a drop in the mouth?

Liquid B would be good, and if you can get the lil one to take it by mouth a drop at a time would get it into his/her system quicker. Not sure on the dosage though if you can find it again please share.

 

[Apyl]

Liquid B would be good, and if you can get the lil one to take it by mouth a drop at a time would get it into his/her system quicker. Not sure on the dosage though if you can find it again please share.

Ok I found the bottle and it says it has 20 mg of niacin per 1 ML (1.0 CC)

Oh and here is the metzer page
http://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-my-ducklings-leg-problems-due-to.html

 

[Apyl]

Here is the liquid B info


"Are there alternatives to pure Niacin? If you are concerned with the possibility that other vitamins may be missing, too, you can purchase Vitamin B liquid supplements. The GNC product I found had 20 mg of niacin per dropper full. This is enough for two ducks that are 3-4 weeks old. This might be the best way to administer niacin if your birds are exhibiting leg problems. By administering the niacin to each bird, you will know they are getting the required niacin."

Lets see so if half a dropper is good for 1 3 week old duckling, I would need what 1/3 of the half dropper ???

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here is the liquid B info


"Are there alternatives to pure Niacin? If you are concerned with the possibility that other vitamins may be missing, too, you can purchase Vitamin B liquid supplements. The GNC product I found had 20 mg of niacin per dropper full. This is enough for two ducks that are 3-4 weeks old. This might be the best way to administer niacin if your birds are exhibiting leg problems. By administering the niacin to each bird, you will know they are getting the required niacin."

Lets see so if half a dropper is good for 1 3 week old duckling, I would need what 1/3 of the half dropper ???

I am not good on the math but I'm thinking maybe start out at 1/4 and increase from there. Thanks for the link I have it book marked but forgot about it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...k-or-balance-need-assistance/20#post_10772346 post 22