Crested Indian Runner - have questions and advice needed

[wolfinator]

I've been raising khaki Campbell's ducks since 2017. In 2019 I ended up with a lone KC duckling when his sister died, I bought a pair of Indian Runner ducklings about the same age (3-5 days old). August 2020 I ordered 10 female Runner ducklings through a hatchery, I ended up with one being a drake. I also added a Mallard and a Rouen, both female. Over the last 5 years, I now have a total of 27 ducks after some well hidden nests yielding a bunch of babies. I managed to rehome 9 males. Over time, I've lost 1 drake and 3 females to owls and 2 females to medical problems.

Then a couple days ago, Rural King had some adorable crested indian runner babies. Only 1 was a female so I got her (solid yellow) and a regular fawn/white male (if I'm right). Today as I was scrubbing out their tote, I put them in another tote with a little water so they could play in it. Suddenly the female fell over on her back and couldn't upright herself. I quickly grabbed both, dumped out the water thinking she slipped. A few moments later it happened again, this time her head was wobbly and shaking a little, I picked her up and held her until she stopped. In between I was still trying to clean their tote out. She didn't have any more over the next 6-8 hours. A little while ago she fell on her back again, I quickly uprighted her. She's sleeping peacefully right now.

She's about 5-6 days old, are these signs of her having neurological problems and could the head shaking have been a seizure? What's her chance of survival? If she survives, can she be put in with the other ducks when old enough (I usually introduce juveniles between 4-5 months)? I'm trying to read up on things, but would like personal experiences from those who raise the crested indian runner ducks.

Thanks in advance.

 

[wolfinator]

Here's a photo of them on our way home.

 

[ruthhope]

I've been raising khaki Campbell's ducks since 2017. In 2019 I ended up with a lone KC duckling when his sister died, I bought a pair of Indian Runner ducklings about the same age (3-5 days old). August 2020 I ordered 10 female Runner ducklings through a hatchery, I ended up with one being a drake. I also added a Mallard and a Rouen, both female. Over the last 5 years, I now have a total of 27 ducks after some well hidden nests yielding a bunch of babies. I managed to rehome 9 males. Over time, I've lost 1 drake and 3 females to owls and 2 females to medical problems.

Then a couple days ago, Rural King had some adorable crested indian runner babies. Only 1 was a female so I got her (solid yellow) and a regular fawn/white male (if I'm right). Today as I was scrubbing out their tote, I put them in another tote with a little water so they could play in it. Suddenly the female fell over on her back and couldn't upright herself. I quickly grabbed both, dumped out the water thinking she slipped. A few moments later it happened again, this time her head was wobbly and shaking a little, I picked her up and held her until she stopped. In between I was still trying to clean their tote out. She didn't have any more over the next 6-8 hours. A little while ago she fell on her back again, I quickly uprighted her. She's sleeping peacefully right now.

She's about 5-6 days old, are these signs of her having neurological problems and could the head shaking have been a seizure? What's her chance of survival? If she survives, can she be put in with the other ducks when old enough (I usually introduce juveniles between 4-5 months)? I'm trying to read up on things, but would like personal experiences from those who raise the crested indian runner ducks.

Thanks in advance.

Sounds like you have a crested with neurological issues. The crest forms over a fatty area in a breech in the skull. There is an association with abnormalities ulincthe brain underneath. Many of us are against intentional breeding of crested ducks for that reason. My son has a crested Pekin that came in a straight run of 3 ducklings from Tractor Supply. She hasn't have convulsions or serious problems in her 4 years of life but she is a little daft. She gets stuck in the coop and can't find her way out., so she just stands inside and shouts. The drake has to go and get her. She recently got stuck in the wading pool and apparently couldn't get out -- when my husband went to put the ducks to bed. But she's lively, loud, and bossy. I had a rescued crested Pekin drake. He had no issues at all but died at 3 years old from a pelvic tumor having bee unable to walk for 6 months. I think that was from the pelvic tumor pressing on peripheral nerves and not from a brain abnormality.

Your we mite almost certainly has a brain abnormally, but Ducks are resourceful and may only be 'inconvenienced' by the effects of the abnormality. Ensure it has a safe environment, is warm enough until fully feathered, and gets enough to eat and drink. Dp not let it bath or swim unsupervised as it might need pulling out of the water quickly. Please keep it see no touch with other ducklings, not isolated, and if there is another quiet /gentle duckling that could stay with the crested duckling, that would be ideal

Let us know how things develop and good luck!

 

[wolfinator]

Sounds like you have a crested with neurological issues. The crest forms over a fatty area in a breech in the skull. There is an association with abnormalities ulincthe brain underneath. Many of us are against intentional breeding of crested ducks for that reason. My son has a crested Pekin that came in a straight run of 3 ducklings from Tractor Supply. She hasn't have convulsions or serious problems in her 4 years of life but she is a little daft. She gets stuck in the coop and can't find her way out., so she just stands inside and shouts. The drake has to go and get her. She recently got stuck in the wading pool and apparently couldn't get out -- when my husband went to put the ducks to bed. But she's lively, loud, and bossy. I had a rescued crested Pekin drake. He had no issues at all but died at 3 years old from a pelvic tumor having bee unable to walk for 6 months. I think that was from the pelvic tumor pressing on peripheral nerves and not from a brain abnormality.

Your we mite almost certainly has a brain abnormally, but Ducks are resourceful and may only be 'inconvenienced' by the effects of the abnormality. Ensure it has a safe environment, is warm enough until fully feathered, and gets enough to eat and drink. Dp not let it bath or swim unsupervised as it might need pulling out of the water quickly. Please keep it see no touch with other ducklings, not isolated, and if there is another quiet /gentle duckling that could stay with the crested duckling, that would be ideal

Let us know how things develop and good luck!

Thank you...

The pair will be kept inside the house until the outgrow the tote they're in, then will be moved to the coop nursery into a 100 gallon metal tank until fully feathered unless it's summer. If summer, they may be put into one of the step-up coops with a small pen inside the main pen. I have the availability to section off my setup into 4-6 separate areas. My mixed flock have a total about 4000sqft between pens, coops and garden areas to roam regularly. When I'm available to watch them, they have most of the backyard, the woods and even the neighbor's backyard to roam. I keep juveniles of any breed separate from adults until they start laying. I had a 15 week old Easter Egger that my Jersey Giant tried to mate with, she suffered a permanent hip injury. She, like the hen who raised her, became one of my surrogate mommas. She's 2 years old now. They're in my bantam pen. I may, as the crested duckling matures, put her in that pen also. Currently in that pen are 8 juvenile Easter Eggers (scared of their own shadows), 2 Silkie roosters (Chevy & Ford), 2 Silkie hens (Catie & Fiona), the injured hen (Cassiidy) and a 7 year old Golden Comet with a leg deformity, lacks a ankle joint (Waddles). She'd have plenty of company in there.

 

[ruthhope]

Thank you...

The pair will be kept inside the house until the outgrow the tote they're in, then will be moved to the coop nursery into a 100 gallon metal tank until fully feathered unless it's summer. If summer, they may be put into one of the step-up coops with a small pen inside the main pen. I have the availability to section off my setup into 4-6 separate areas. My mixed flock have a total about 4000sqft between pens, coops and garden areas to roam regularly. When I'm available to watch them, they have most of the backyard, the woods and even the neighbor's backyard to roam. I keep juveniles of any breed separate from adults until they start laying. I had a 15 week old Easter Egger that my Jersey Giant tried to mate with, she suffered a permanent hip injury. She, like the hen who raised her, became one of my surrogate mommas. She's 2 years old now. They're in my bantam pen. I may, as the crested duckling matures, put her in that pen also. Currently in that pen are 8 juvenile Easter Eggers (scared of their own shadows), 2 Silkie roosters (Chevy & Ford), 2 Silkie hens (Catie & Fiona), the injured hen (Cassiidy) and a 7 year old Golden Comet with a leg deformity, lacks a ankle joint (Waddles). She'd have plenty of company in there.

Great set up.

My friend has a muscovy drake and females that were soearately injured in road accidents several years ago. Neither can walk and get around the ground usingctgeir one good leg and wings. They act as surrogate parents to rescued ducklings. It's amazing how some ducks take to surrogacy!

 

[wolfinator]

Great set up.

My friend has a muscovy drake and females that were soearately injured in road accidents several years ago. Neither can walk and get around the ground usingctgeir one good leg and wings. They act as surrogate parents to rescued ducklings. It's amazing how some ducks take to surrogacy!

The hen, Waddles I use as a surrogate passed away a few days ago, she had just turned 8. She had been having a little trouble breathing the last couple days and her comb was getting a little darkness on the tips. I knew I was losing her soon. I was doing final check and heard a scratching thumping noise in the back room, I shined the light and saw her, I knew. I held her and moments later she passed.

On a better note...The duckling so far hasn't had any more episodes. The ducklings have grown quite a bit, I already had to go to a larger 30 gal tote. Next wil be to 100 gal tank. It's already cleaned and ready for bedding and babies. No matter, she'll be placed with in the banty pen for safety. To lessen the weight of her crest as she grows, I'll probably keep it trimmed down, instead of crest, she'll have a cap. I'm thinking of training her to walk with a harness and leash so she can enjoy the grass too. She's just got to grow a little more, the one I have fits a 4-6# hen.

That's wonderful of your friend taking in the injured ducks. I think animals with special needs are usually the greatest and most appreciative ones.

Already the boy has a little distance attitude towards me, but the female likes it when I hold her and will nuzzle some.

 

[ruthhope]

The hen, Waddles I use as a surrogate passed away a few days ago, she had just turned 8. She had been having a little trouble breathing the last couple days and her comb was getting a little darkness on the tips. I knew I was losing her soon. I was doing final check and heard a scratching thumping noise in the back room, I shined the light and saw her, I knew. I held her and moments later she passed.

So sad that you lost waddles. Thankful you were there with her at the end. When my special needs drake died, he was with my friend as I was in the UK visiting my elderly mother. She is the wildlife rehabber that has the special needs muscovy pair. Fortunately she was with him, Ping, at the end. My son went to collect him and gave him a good burial in my back garden.

I'm glad your little crested is doing OK. You might not need to trim the feathers: Pings was only tiny but my son's female crested pekin, Mop Head, has a huge pompom and it really doesn't bother her. there was a crested pekin that was a social media phenomenon. Her pompom was even large than my son's. She died last year or the year before but had had a good long life. She and our two didn't have neurological issues although mop head is a bit ditsy!! The photo is Gertrude the social media star.