Duck seizures!

[tiffanya]

Has anyone else had this happen??

When one of my cayuga ducklings was about 3-4 weeks old I began turning the heat lamp on in the brooder only at night. (They were in our garage and it was 80-90 degrees during the day.) This was fine for about a week until one night when I turned the list on one of my ducklings had a seizure. At first I didn't realize what had happened, just saw him flopping around on his side, unable to stand. By the time I had gone inside to have my husband come out and take a look at him he was back on his feet and walking around. This happened another 3-4 times in the next couple of weeks before I put them outside, even when I would turn the overhead light on before turning the heat lamp on. How he seems to be doing just fine.

 

[Born A Duck Lover]

That happened with my Cayuga, too. I think it was diagnosed as a neurological disorder. Here's a link to the thread that I posted several months ago. Hope it helps!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4303418#p4303418

 

[katharinad]

Try not to use the red heat lamp at all, it can be the trigger for it. I never used any red heat lamps on my ducklings at all. A regular right bulb should be fine. Sounds like your duck is now old enough were you don't need warming light anymore. Also make sure they get all the vitamins they need. There seems to be a connection in particular with a lack in vitamin b's and seizures. It either gets better or not, worse a try. Hope your duck gets out of it. If not they still can live a full life.

 

[tiffanya]

Thanks for the link! The best I could tell it was just neurological as well since the other duck never had any problems and it was pretty obviously caused from the change in light. He seems to be doing well now, I just wasn't sure if this was common in ducks since these are the first I had raised.

I was just using the regular heat lamp, not the red.

 

[chowyungfatso]

The same seizure thing just happened to Mr. Waddlesworth, our duckling, late last night.

He's been somewhat lethargic since Saturday night (or at least that's when we noticed his head was tucked in and not extending his neck). I also noticed he has some sort of discharge from his eyes:

but I'm not sure if this from him just not "washing" his face enough as he's not as active in going to the water (or feed). We are ensuring he drinks, but he's just not as eager as he was before, and absolutely lethargic compared to the other duckling we have.

We will give him some Polyvisol for the vitamin B, as has been suggested, but please let me know if anyone has any other thoughts.

Really appreciate any thoughts.

 

[beardiemom]

We had one Magpie out of 8 that had an occasional seizure. We weren't sure at first if the feed had gotten moldy or if it was neurological. But since none of the others had gotten sick, we decided it was neurological. We try to avoid stressing him (like using him for herding practice), and he has been fine since.

Sharon

 

[rainplace]

Quote:
Can you explain more fully the red heal lamp/seizure relation to me?