Duck not growing.

[Leighnicki]

Help. My little duck is 3 months old and has not grown much at all. No feathers coming in still has its down! It gets around fine eats well. But idk what to do for it. I literally have it in with a quail. Which is no working anymore because the male quail is trying to breed with it and is pulling out the down. Any suggestions welcome.

 

[Leighnicki]

Boards might be rough on her feet - you might want to consider shavings or hay so you don't run into problems - their feet are so tender.

I agree. Its not sure permanent solution just what I had readily available til I can get something built. With the cooler nights it will be coming inside over night. Likes it's lap time with me in the evening. I do too!

 

[Quatie]

No he is pretty hefty not bony. Being small is okay, it's being small and no sign of getting feathers that really worries me

Well that is good his weight is doing good. Hmm the no feathers is odd. Purina duck should be perfectly fine for ducks and have a good amount of protein. You could try something like rooster booster poultry cell. It has a wide range of minerals and vitamins good for ducks and in good amounts too. We have seen it help other ducks, maybe it would work here too. It certainly will not hurt. @HollowOfWisps recommends it and I think it was her that has mentioned long ago about a certain vitamin that is good for duck feathers.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Since you have access to Purina I would switch to Purina's Flock Raiser. It is a little higher in protein, but particularly higher in Methionine which is crucial for feather growth. Purina's Duck Pellets are .40% methionine while their flock raiser is .55% methionine which may not seem like a huge difference, but it definitely is. I have a duck who is full grown, but still a tad smaller than the rest and she will not properly molt on anything less than .50% methionine. I also (as @Quatie said above) would put your duckling on Rooster Booster's "Poultry Cell".

On a separate note does you duckling have water deep enough to fill submerge it's head? It looks a little crusty around the eyes. I also agree I would get your duckling off of the mesh floor asap. That type of flooring is both painful and stressful for webbed feet (stress can also contribute to health issues in ducks).

 

[CoriM]

Boards might be rough on her feet - you might want to consider shavings or hay so you don't run into problems - their feet are so tender.

 

[Leighnicki]

@Leighnicki how is your duck doing?

Has put a iittle weight on. Trying to grow a few feathers

 

[Leighnicki]

UPDATE: Little duck has not grown much. It did get in some feathers. But none on the wings. Certainly does not like to swim. Plays in water but wants only areas it can stand. Currently is living in my bathroom because I'm not sure it could handle the cold temps outside. It certainly has personality. in ways I feel bad for it, but in others it seems pretty content so I give love and attention. It does not quack only make soft hissing noise as a quack. Which does make it a quiet house guest! Still very good at getting its point across though.

 

[Leighnicki]

It

What are you feeding? Can you post a picture? Did you breed this duck?

It's a rouen/Ancona mix it hatched under one of my chicken hens but yes mom and dad were my own birds. I was feeding all flock but when the others got bigger and I separated started giving this little one purina duck.

 

[CoriM]

That is very interesting. I hope someone can shed some insight. Just a few weeks ago someone posted and their 2-3 month old duckling still had down as well, though she was posting for a different reason.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry, I don't know much about Ducks.

Hopefully some Duck Folks can chime in with some suggestions. @Quatie @HollowOfWisps @shawluvsbirds