Duck can't walk or stand

[chickens really]

I guess.
Their is Duckling specific feed.
I also recommend free ranging ducklings/ducks.
Fruit and veggies and grains.
Where I come from we never heard of all these extra things too raise ducks...
My point is, let them forage or get Chickens instead?
Yes, thank you. I have happy fat Ducks...Sorry yours got sick.
I raise mine in pens but still treat them as a wild bird when it comes to nutrition ...
In winter I warm and soften Alfalfa cubes for the missing forage and add more grains and green veggies.
Really I never thought they could be this hard??

 

[chickens really]

Not everyone has access to feed specifically made for ducks or mixed flocks. Some can only get chick starter. In those cases they have to add supplements to give the ducklings the required niacin levels.

Sure, wild ducks don't have access to supplements but they also don't get regular feed. That's one reason why most wild ducklings don't make it to adulthood. There's also the fact that wild ducks don't grow to 5-15 pounds or lay more than a single clutch of eggs in a year. Domestic ducks have slightly different needs than wild ducks because humans changed them.

Just what works for us. Answered a thread too the best of my knowledge..Never once had an issue.
Mine really don't eat the duck food at all..Prefer too forage, eat grains and the friuts/veggies.

 

[AceWeasel]

I guess.
Their is Duckling specific feed.
I also recommend free ranging ducklings/ducks.
Fruit and veggies and grains.
Where I come from we never heard of all these extra things too raise ducks...
My point is, let them forage or get Chickens instead?
Yes, thank you. I have happy fat Ducks...Sorry yours got sick.
I raise mine in pens but still treat them as a wild bird when it comes to nutrition ...
In winter I warm and soften Alfalfa cubes for the missing forage and add more grains and green veggies.
Really I never thought they could be this hard??

just because they make duckling specific feed doesn't mean it will be readily available everywhere. you can't find it at all locally where I am, the best you can find is a wildfowl feed more suited to things like guineas than ducks that still requires you add niacin as supplement if you're using it as a duck feed.

and there are cases where you can't let ducklings forage. it was too chilly for me to let my two ducklings forage until they were over a month and a half old. and even once we could let them forage it turns out one of them is a very finicky eater and won't eat some stuff that would be naturally giving them the niacin they need.

there are a number of factors that affect how hard or easy it can be to keep an animal at optimal health. there's no reason to come off a bit condescending just because their situation doesn't make it as easy as your situation.

 

[hugitnotnugget]

He is not 3 months yet but fully grown. His feet and legs look fine but he can't balance him self. I don't know what to do!

he was fine an hour before. I think it's an injury. I'm going to take him to the vet. He can kick his legs and flap his wings, he just can't balance himself. Could his leg be dislocated?

 

[Amiga]

he was fine an hour before. I think it's an injury. I'm going to take him to the vet. He can kick his legs and flap his wings, he just can't balance himself. Could his leg be dislocated?

Maybe, but it could be a number of things. If you can get him to a vet, I think that's a good idea. Just remember ducklings are very resilient, and can recover from even serious illness or injury with proper treatment. I want to say don't give up too easily. Every now and then I read about a vet who says the duck or duckling cannot be helped, to euthanize, but the duck's person figured out how to treat the problem and the duck made it.

 

[chickens really]

just because they make duckling specific feed doesn't mean it will be readily available everywhere. you can't find it at all locally where I am, the best you can find is a wildfowl feed more suited to things like guineas than ducks that still requires you add niacin as supplement if you're using it as a duck feed.

and there are cases where you can't let ducklings forage. it was too chilly for me to let my two ducklings forage until they were over a month and a half old. and even once we could let them forage it turns out one of them is a very finicky eater and won't eat some stuff that would be naturally giving them the niacin they need.

there are a number of factors that affect how hard or easy it can be to keep an animal at optimal health. there's no reason to come off a bit condescending just because their situation doesn't make it as easy as your situation.

Truly, I am not trying to be condescending at all.
I really never gave it much thought that they can be hard too raise.

 

[hugitnotnugget]

Maybe, but it could be a number of things.  If you can get him to a vet, I think that's a good idea.  Just remember ducklings are very resilient, and can recover from even serious illness or injury with proper treatment.  I want to say don't give up too easily.  Every now and then I read about a vet who says the duck or duckling cannot be helped, to euthanize, but the duck's person figured out how to treat the problem and the duck made it.

Thank you that makes me feel better. We're going to the vet at 3:30. I will post how things went

 

[FussyHen]

The OP hasn't said what he/she feeds. Too many people try to buy the cheapest crap they can find, and it simply isn't appropriate. My neighbor was feeding cheap 9% protein!

From hatching to about 3 wks, they need 18-20% protein.

From 4 to 13 wks, they need 14% protein.

Laying ducks need more protein and calcium, meaning a layer or breeder diet of 16 to 17% protein, and higher in calcium than maintenance diets. If you have males and females running and feeding together, free-feed a higher-protein but NOT a layer diet because the excess calcium is not good for males (causes kidney problems). Have a separate dish of calcium (perhaps like oyster shell calcium) available for the laying females so they can take as much as they need; the males usually don't even look at it. If the eggshells are thin or non-existant (just the membrane, no shell), your girls are seriously deficient in calcium.

And for those people who jump up and say, "Well, wild ducks don't get (fill in the space)", please be aware that wild ducks don't lay as heavily as domestic ducks, either, so their nutritional demands are not as high.

 

[gal5150]

Yes, let us know what the vet says. In your initial post you didn't mention that this was an "out of nowhere" problem so that changes things and seems like an injury could definitely be it! Hope all goes well

 

[hugitnotnugget]

Back from the vet. He mentioned he is a little thin so we need to get some different feed. The top of his femur is cracked.