Ok, this is not a chick question but a duckling question. I brought a sick duckling home from the feed store today bc well, that's how I am. It looks like it could be duck hepatitis after reading on the internet (matches symptoms exactly.) My kids and I have been handling it and I'm now a little terrified. Is this something that can be transferred to people or animals? I know it prob can my chickens but they are outside away from it all. Also, has anyone had a duck arch it's back and fall over with its legs stiff and straight out and it not be hepatitis? It is constantly drinking water and I mean every 5 seconds and eating good. It looks a bit spraddle leg so I taped it's legs up. It's not on it's back anymore bc of the small space it's in and actually seems to be more alert and doing a bit better. I have had him for about 7 hours now. Any advice would be great bc i don't know a thing about ducks!
Duck hepatitis
- Thread starter Ash123
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You might want to ask the same question in the duck forum.
-Kathy
-Kathy
Thank you for taking the little in.
This may not be DVH. It may be a niacin deficiency caused by feeding chick starter.
Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks says to start on 100 to 150 mg niacin (from a capsule - do not use timed release or no-flush kind, just plain niacin) in each gallon of drinking water for several weeks. I would say 8 weeks. From what I have seen on the duck forum, results may be seen overnight, to within a week.
Looking up details for DVH in Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, I see no mention of being able to be contracted by humans - and you know it's always good to wash hands after handling animals.
It appears to affect ducklings, primarily. I will check at the duck forum and we can continue there if you wish.
(made a few more edits as I went along on this response . . . .)
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I want to say that ususally viruses and diseases do not spread from species to species, but as we all know in terms of Swine and Bird Flus, they indeed can. I say if you have any concerns for you own health, or your family's health, then you should consult a Dr or other Medical Professional.
... That said, ducks are normally super hardy, super tough, resilient, and healthy creatures... I'm with Amiga. I'd do the Vitamins for a few days and see if you notice improvement. Adding the Niacin as she has instructed is a perfect way to go, but what I usually do is add Sav-A-Chick to the water, as it contains the Niacin plus more. Also, seems like I found that the Dumor brand feed contained more Niacin than whatever previous brand I'd been using (back when I had ducklings).
... That said, ducks are normally super hardy, super tough, resilient, and healthy creatures... I'm with Amiga. I'd do the Vitamins for a few days and see if you notice improvement. Adding the Niacin as she has instructed is a perfect way to go, but what I usually do is add Sav-A-Chick to the water, as it contains the Niacin plus more. Also, seems like I found that the Dumor brand feed contained more Niacin than whatever previous brand I'd been using (back when I had ducklings).
For what it's worth, Twycross Zoo in the UK seems to indicate on this page that it only affects ducklings.
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/viral/duck_hepatitis_type_2.htm#HumanHealth
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/viral/duck_hepatitis_type_2.htm#HumanHealth
- Thread starter
- #6
Thanks so much everyone! I'm going to get vitamins now. I didn't even know there was a duck forum so I will head over there for any more questions I may have. It lived overnight which I was not expecting and even seems to be a little better. Not great, but isn't falling on it's back anymore
I may shkuld have added before that it had a home for a day with a little girl who "loved" it a lot
it started acting weird so the mom brought it back to the store. Anyways, thanks for your help!
I may shkuld have added before that it had a home for a day with a little girl who "loved" it a lot it started acting weird so the mom brought it back to the store. Anyways, thanks for your help!
Most chick starters also have amprolium, which in theory could cause a thiamine deficiency. Don't know if any of the symptoms match, but maybe it's worth looking into?
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/216/vitamin-bi-deficiency
-Kathy
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/216/vitamin-bi-deficiency
-Kathy
- Thread starter
- #8
He/she is up running around now. Yesterday I walked by the poor thing laying on it's back and made the comment to my daughter that the sweet thing was dying. I never thought that today it would be at my house and even more so running around. It's neck is a little tilted still when it runs around but it is crazy how much it has improved in 24 hours. I think it would have died if I had left it there. I put some niacin in it's water this morning. That's the only thing I have done different besides taping it's legs bc it's a little spraddled. I'm thinking we aren't in danger at this point. I feel like if it was hepatitis it wouldn't be getting better and would have died by now.
- Thread starter
- #9
It's probably okay, but don't quote me on that. Glad to hear it's doing better!
-Kathy
-Kathy
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