Duckling dying? please help!

[Ekaufee17]

Hey all.... i've got many ducks, but as for the ducklings, i have two khakis, two swedish blues, and two mallards. all was fine and dandy until today i realized the one khaki (the runt of the group) was having a hard time walking. her feet are kind of curled up instead of flat, she cant walk more than a few steps before she topples over or has to stop. will not eat, drinks but only when the water bowl is placed right next to her. her eyes are kind of droopy as well. and finally, when she isnt sleeping, her head is like constantly shaking side to side. im assuming im going to have a dead duckling on my hands soon, but shes held on for about 8 or 9 hours in the same condition... does anyone know what is wrong with her? i did clean some dried poop out from her earlier, but im not sure thats the problem. shes just very frail and keeps shaking her head. if its viral i dont want it spreading to my other ducks... and sorry this is such a sporadic thread, im just worried and dont know what to do....

 

[countrygirl74]

Have you tried giving her niacin? Also, if you can, share some more information about the brooder, how old, what they are eating, etc. That will help us all help you. Hopefully she can be saved!!

 

[Ekaufee17]

the mallards and blues are about a month old. the khakis are both about 2 and a half weeks. theyve been eating dumor chick starter just as all my grown up ducks had. the brooder is a very large plastic bin with the typical duckling woodshavings in it, with the food and water dispensers in it as well. everything changed out about every other day to every 3 days. never any longer. i havent tried the niacin thing, although thats what ive stumbled across the most on the site. best way to do so? shes just very, very lethargic. doesnt really want to move. very flimsy and what not as well...

 

[EJPedrazzi]

I literally just had this problem with my KC duckling and niacin really brought her through it. She was really lethargic, weak and wobbly, could barely stand up, and her feet were all curled up. I first started adding niacin to the water - 100 - 150mg crushed per gallon of water. But just regular niacin, NOT flush stuff - apparently that goes straight through their little systems. I did that until I could get my hands on some Purina Flock Starter which has the recommended amount of niacin in for ducks. She's been gaining strength daily and last week started walking and running again. Hopefully you can get some into her and strengthen your little one up too!

 

[pagumby]

x2 on the niacin. Do not get the flush free or extended release though. I got some 100mg tablets at my local vitamin store. Crush 1 tablet in about a gallon of water. Hope it helps. Ducks need more niacin than the chick starter has in it. If you have an Agway store out your way stop in there and they can recommend a better food for your ducks. Don't rely on a TSC to stear you in the right direction. Not saying that's where you shop, just know that Dumor is what they carry. Good luck.

 

[aaajjss1]

i buy the niacin capsules (non flushing)one is enough for 5 gallons of water, i also give poly vi sol with out iron in their water once a day,also get them out in the sun and grass as much as possible. brewers yeast on their food its good too, keep the vitamins and niacin going untilthey are about 14 weeks old

 

[Ekaufee17]

so you think that is the problem with her? she doesnt eat though thats my problem. and she'll drink but only a few gulps every hour. how do i go about getting it into her system? assuming it isnt too late to save her.

 

[countrygirl74]

Yes, you are getting some good advice here - sometime niacin can be a real miracle-worker. Unless the feed is formulated specifically for ducks, which most people either can't find or don't use since chick starter is fine, there's not enough in it.

I use the 100mg capsules, pull them apart and drop one in a gallon of water. All the ducklings will benefit from this! It is a good idea to give them this for the first 10-12 weeks. For any that seem to have issues like the one you have mentioned, definitely go for 12 weeks.

And I think someone mentioned - NO "flush-free" or "time-release" niacin. Sometimes you have to go to a health food store to find regular niacin.

If she won't drink at all, dry a dropper, gently putting it by her beak and see if she swallows some of it - don't force it.

 

[Ekaufee17]

Thank you guys so much! i live right by a super walmart so im going to check that out now just in case seeing as how its 9:30 here on the east coast. The little one is sitting in the corner of the brooder all by herself just kind of shivering while the other 5 are all cuddled up together fast asleep. should this be worrisome or is it just the nature of the beast with this niacin deficiency. yesterday morning the ducks were all fine. this issue pretty much sprung up in the last 30 hours or so.

 

[pagumby]

Have you tried putting any food into the water and offered that? My Kahki's (3weeks old) love it like that. I call it their slop. I always have a bowl of crumbles in their for them with water as well. Every morning when I get up the are chirping like mad at me until I make some up for them. Even though they have the other they gobble it up like crazy. They certainly know how to boss me around.