Ducking neck problem?

[Simpleenough77]

I recently had two Silver Appleyards (and one Black Swedish) hatch about 9 days ago. The ducklings appear to be healthy, with good appetite, good movement.

This morning I noticed that one of the Silver Appleyards appears to be holding its head back, almost like it’s shrugging. Here is a picture showing the ducklings:

As I noted, other than the neck appearing to be ‘stuck’, this duckling certainly has a healthy appetite, is moving just fine (runs along like its siblings). It doesn’t appear to be a wry neck, as it doesn’t seem to have a problem craning to the water and feed bowl.

Is this normal? If not, is there something I can do about it?

Thanks!

- Avi

 

[Miss Lydia]

What are you feeding? I hate to sound like a broken record but all Water fowl babies need niacin and if they are being fed chick starter they are probably not getting enough and this could be a niacin deficiency it can show up with head tilt leg lameness etc. possibly the duckling hurt itself too but getting them on niacin can really help them over come some of the issues duckling can have even from hatch.
There are a few different forms you can think about "Plain" niacin tabs or capsules with out time release or flush free those don't work for water fowl 125-150 mgs to a gal of water mixed well all of these need to be used till 10 weeks of age they are slowing down in their growth rate by then.

Nutritional yeast 1 Tab per cup of feed
Brewers yeast same as Nutritional yeast for dose

Or B Complex liquid which is best if one is already showing symptoms of a problem. TSC carries one in the cattle section says injectable but we give it orally to our birds over dried meal worms or smashed peas just enough treat to get them to eat the snack all up. from TSC 1ml per duckling daily or Walmart or other store that sells vitamins the human B complex which would be 1 teaspoon daily this seems to work the fastest when already having a problem @CayugaJana has used it with her ducklings. They certainly are adorable duckling full of personality

 

[Simpleenough77]

What are you feeding? I hate to sound like a broken record but all Water fowl babies need niacin and if they are being fed chick starter they are probably not getting enough and this could be a niacin deficiency it can show up with head tilt leg lameness etc. possibly the duckling hurt itself too but getting them on niacin can really help them over come some of the issues duckling can have even from hatch.

Thanks for the quick response! I’ve been giving them the Mana Duck Starter and mealworms. I’ll go to TSC and grab the B-complex. Should I give it to all of them? Or just administer it to this one duckling?

Thanks again!

 

[Treekthebeak]

Looks like it's puffed up. Does he/she have a reasonable amount of bedding? Do you have any other pets?

 

[Simpleenough77]

Looks like it's puffed up. Does he/she have a reasonable amount of bedding? Do you have any other pets?

Yes, they all have the same amount of bedding, and I thought it looked puffed up, but I think this is just because of how it’s holding its neck...

 

[Treekthebeak]

Thanks for the quick response! I’ve been giving them the Mana Duck Starter and mealworms. I’ll go to TSC and grab the B-complex. Should I give it to all of them? Or just administer it to this one duckling?

Thanks again!

If it's niacin then I would give it to all of them.

 

[CayugaJana]

Yep give it to all of them. This little one most likely was deficient from hatch. Ducks have a problem making their own niacin, so a high amount is needed from their diet. And it won’t hurt them even if it turns out to be another issue. But the deficiency is the most common issue I see on here anyways, plus it is the EASIEST to treat. You should see improvement in about a week, sometimes less.

 

[Simpleenough77]

Thank you all! I didn’t want to just try one thing, so I gave them both Niacin, and more chick grit. All duckies are doing great, and getting big!

 

[Aquam29]

Not sure if I should post this here or not...my runner duck had a run in with a new duck we brought back ( no longer have the new one) she had some feathers missing but I'm most concerned with her neck. This happened on Monday morning and it is now Thursday. I have had her separated in our breezeway, have been spraying any wounds, letting her bath in the bathtub, she's finally eating a little bit such as watermelon and peas and drinking some vitamin water. She does not seem to sleep at all or even lay down. My question is...is there anything else I can be doing to help her neck? Should I put her back with the other two ducks who she is normall with if she has no open wounds? We also have a new runner duck is a different crate by her that is a little over a month old...should I put those two together so maybe she can snuggle and fall asleep? Thank you for any help I love her tons!

 

[chickens really]

Have you tried to straighten it or message it?...My Hen landed on a Call Duckling and that's what I did. She was fine after that..