Drunk Duckling?! Advice please for my wobbly baby

[Mummyduck]

Hello! I have 2 indian runner ducklings - one is not yet 24 hours old and the other one is 48 hours old. They have been placed together in the brooder today. Omlet, the older one, is quite a bit bigger than Pip, the younger one and likes to peck at Pip's feet. I don't think it's hurting but how can I stop him from doing this?! However, my main question is: why is it that whenever Omlet has a drink of water he tips his head so far back he falls over backwards? It looks like he is drunk but it's water and not gin in the water bowl! He is very strong, hyperactive and quick/steady on his feet other than this, could there be something wrong? I have fed them duckling crumbs and the water is right next to the food. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

*Can someone also please tell me how i can get the subject in capitals?! I tried the brackets/b thing but it hasn't worked...thanks

 

[duckyfromoz]

Its most likely a thiamine deficiency by the sounds of it. I only heard of it a few years ago when a runner I hatched from posted eggs was flipping over. My little one was given an injection of the vitamin and prescribed larger than normal doses of vitamin powder in her water to try and bring her levels back up to normal. Catching this so young will mean that treatment will work faster. Get some powdered vitamins mix frmo a feed store- or even some liquid vitamins for caged birds from a pet shop if you cant get anything else - make up a concentrate and try getting the little one to drink from an eye dropper. It will allow it to drink without throwing its head back.

My girl is still a bit odd- but lives a completely normal life. The day I took her to the vet- I was assuming there was no hope for her and the vet would recommend putting her to sleep. So glad that never happened as she is an incredible duck. She still gets a bit flippy at times when molting, so I increase her weekly doses of vitamins during these times.

 

[Mummyduck]

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I have got some liquid vitamins so hopefully that will do the trick. Omlet seems quite happy but it's not nice seeing him roll about. I wasn't sure if maybe he/she couldn't swallow properly. I think if Omlet remains the odd little character he is he'll fit right in in this house! Thanks again for your help.

By the way, I LOVE your pic!

 

[duckyfromoz]

It should be fine and grow up normal- but if it ends up like my Flippy you will have a gorgeous pet that will be a wonderful source of entertainment and joy.
The vitamins may take a few days to work- but keep with it. Its important to make sure you give the baby a drink often as it might get distressed flipping and stop drinking on its own.

She is so weird - but that just makes me love her more. here are a few pics of her- As a baby she would sit like this and move her head from side to side. After that she started walking in big circles- she couldnt walk a straight line at all.
All the while every time she had a drink she would flip over onto her back. It was very distressing at times. I did take her to work with me for a few days- and then came home each lunch time to check on her for a further week.

She gets into everything- if ever I hear my daughter outside laughing...I know she is watching Flippy.

 

[Mummyduck]

She is so cute! Thanks for showing me the pics

I am glad she has turned out ok, like you say, it can be quite distressing to watch them and worry that there is something wrong.

Omlet does the same thing, takes a drink and bends his head back and moves it from side to side for quite a while or flips over. He can drink without doing this too! He has no problem with food though....! We will persevere with the vitamin drops and hopefully he will be fine. Thanks for your advice. He is very funny, he will be loved no matter what! (I say he because I think Omlet may turn out to be a boy - he's much bigger than Pip and very boisterous!) I love Indian Runners! I will add some pics if I can figure it out!