Duck Isn't Doing Very Well

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DrabSigh

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I've come to this website many many times already seeking duck information. I hadn't made an account before but I need urgent help because my duck isn't doing very well.

This started maybe a week or two ago but I noticed my duck wasn't as energetic as he used to be. He used to bob his head at me and I'd bob back, but he stopped doing that. I thought, "Well it can't be because he's old, he's only a year and some months!" Then he started to get worse.

It's gotten to the point where it's hard for him to walk and he spends a lot of time sitting in the same place for hours. This causes a lot of concern for me because I'm afraid he's dehydrated or overheated. Because of that I usually put a bucket of water next to him so he doesn't have to struggle to stand.

When I read these threads people usually ask about the diet of the bird and such. We used to give him duck feed from a store that I can't remember the name of and we have a hole in our back yard we've been meaning to line and add a filter to for a pond. For now it's just a hole that we fill twice or three times daily to keep it from soaking into the ground. Nowadays he usually only eats bugs he finds on the ground and drinks water from the hole and the bucket I mentioned previously in case he runs out during the night. We also give him treats like watermelon and vegetables.

I can't seem to find anything else wrong with him other than not being able to walk very well or stand up after tripping. It's really starting to get concerning though so I really need help. Thank you!

P.S. He's a pekin (that's him in my profile picture)

Edit: Can they eat portobellos?? I need anything high in niacin for my baby!

Edit 2: My step dad just saved the day with green peas and sunflower seeds! Until we get him some feed I'll give him mainly the green peas.

Edit 3: For once Narcissus did not like something we gave him. I tried to give him the green peas but he did not like those. However, I did do a little test with the cat food and tuna, and he LOVED it. He gobbled it down so fast! We only have one can of tuna left but I'll be giving him a portion of it in the morning with the cat food and some in the afternoon with cat food just to make sure he doesn't go too many hours hungry. The feed store won't be open since it's the fourth tomorrow so it'll do, but he sure loves it.

Thank you to everyone who has left a comment that's pointed me in the direction of saving my boy!
 
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Welcome to BYC. He needs to be provided a commercial balanced ration immediately. What he is eating is apparently deficient in nutrients that he needs for optimum survival. Good luck in resolving this.
I will let my family know and we will get on that right away. I hope he feels better soon after we start feeding him the duck feed.
 
I'd be worried about his diet. Ducks in nature dabble for all sorts of goodies. Store bought duck feed is designed to provide all of the nutrients that your duck isn't getting in a domestic setting.

I'd also wonder what kinds of other vegetables. https://morningchores.com/feeding-ducks/

Pekin can eat two cups of feed a day. I'm just not sure that it sounds like he's getting adequate nutrition.
 
I'd be worried about his diet. Ducks in nature dabble for all sorts of goodies. Store bought duck feed is designed to provide all of the nutrients that your duck isn't getting in a domestic setting.

I'd also wonder what kinds of other vegetables. https://morningchores.com/feeding-ducks/

Pekin can eat two cups of feed a day. I'm just not sure that it sounds like he's getting adequate nutrition.
Is it okay if I feed him canned tuna for right now? I'm fairly certain he's lacking niacin since sourland pointed me in that direction and it seems like that's what he has. My parents are going to get him feed asap, even tomorrow if the feed store is open. I don't have much to give him right now, so I'm really hoping that'll be okay. I feel so bad for letting him go this long without proper nutrients.
 
Do you have any cat food? You could feed that to him in a pinch. The tuna should be ok, but make sure it is just tuna.
Any bird seed? Oats? Corn?
Does he live outside? Do you have any other ducks?
We do have cat food to spare for him, but no feed until either tomorrow or the next day. Yes he does live outside, and no there aren't any more ducks that live with him. We used to have another Pekin that was a female but she was killed by a dog almost a year ago.
 
Sorry to hear that. I would give him some of the cat food, but get him some real feed as soon as possible. A good feed with lots of niacin is Nutrena all flock feed. It has 125ppm of niacin which is quite enough as a normal level for ducks is 55ppm. However, since your duck probably needs extra it wouldn't hurt to get some liquid b complex and pour it directly on his food, meal worms, peas whatever so he gobbles it right up.
Peas have niacin, so I would continue to give him those in addition to the cat food and tuna (if he will eat it) until you get him proper feed.
Also, he could use a duck friend. He is most likely lonely too since ducks are companion animals.
 
Sorry to hear that. I would give him some of the cat food, but get him some real feed as soon as possible. A good feed with lots of niacin is Nutrena all flock feed. It has 125ppm of niacin which is quite enough as a normal level for ducks is 55ppm. However, since your duck probably needs extra it wouldn't hurt to get some liquid b complex and pour it directly on his food, meal worms, peas whatever so he gobbles it right up.
Peas have niacin, so I would continue to give him those in addition to the cat food and tuna (if he will eat it) until you get him proper feed.
Also, he could use a duck friend. He is most likely lonely too since ducks are companion animals.
Thank you so much, he's walking around a little right now, which isn't a surprise because sometimes he will walk a little bit but usually he ends up tripping and staying right where he's at.
 

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