Duck sick help please

[woodsman100]

Hello,
So we have 3 hooded mergansers that are about 3-4 weeks old. All were doing fine till about 2 days ago. We were doing our evening routine 2 nights ago and all were fine. Next morning I go to see them and we got one flopping around running around in a circle. The head was moving very fast and he acted like he had no control over the movement in his head. We separated him from the others(who are still fine). However he still looks very tough with all of the head movements and still running in circles(more like flopping around in circles. We started electrolytes again in the water and nothing has improved. Has anyone seen this before? Any other ideas for treatment?

 

[chickens really]

What feed are they eating and I'm not familiar with that breed?...

 

[Miss Lydia]

I see you posted in the ornamental section that's the place to be. Hope you can get the help you need.

 

[woodsman100]

What feed are they eating and I'm not familiar with that breed?...

They are being feed Game bird grower (chick starter) its crumb but then well put some meal worms and wax worms in for treats as well

 

[chickens really]

What's the protein percentage?...Might be too high?..

 

[woodsman100]

I think its around mid 20's. I don't have the bag in front of me. I'm at work. When this all started we were using the last of our chicken chick starter (non medicated) that bag was 18% protein.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mergansers are not considered Domestic ducks right? maybe their nutritional needs are different than domestics.

 

[woodsman100]

Mergansers are not considered Domestic ducks right? maybe their nutritional needs are different than domestics.

No they are not. They are a native wild duck to MN. We are raising them similar to other breeders how ever nobody seems to know what is cause this behavior as nobody has seen it before.

 

[chickens really]

Could it be a congenital issue in the breed?..Possibly a waterfowl Vet would know at a University...?

 

[Miss Lydia]

It sounds similar to what we see sometimes in a domestic duckling when they have been fed chick feed which doesn't have enough niacin in it that water fowl need in their diets. Do you have a vet you can talk with about this?