Duckling has dry skin peeling and walking backwards while dragging bill on ground in a squiggle pattern

[AshVau22]

The video didn't work. I'll try again.

I think the only way to upload video is to post on YouTube and share the link here. I've never done it but I think that's how you do it.

 

[wannabefarm girl]

I've never seen anything like this. Almost looks like a possible bacterial infection. What is the brooder set up like? What feed are u feeding? Do they have access to swim?

So, we think it may be caused by mold. When we couldn't figure out what was going on we changed our the brooder box.

We had them in Coco peat with burlap on top initially. We would change the burlap as often as it looked dirty, at least twice a day. We cleaned the whole thing twice a day as well. previously to this we had done the same thing with chicks and everything went well.
But when this started happening and we couldn't figure it out I decided that I wou change the bedding just in case (I couldn't tell any indicator of mold - it didn't seem very wet, there was no smell). So I put them in a new box with paper towels on the ground.

Then I set the other brooder box outside for a day or two and then dumped the bedding out in the garden. When I dumped it I could smell a mild sent of mold. So, we think that's maybe what the problem was.

We had checked it every day for wetness and smell, we even had some charcoal mixed in, but until it sat outside for a bit I couldn't smell anything at all.


Their feed is a good balanced feed mix with all the necessary vitamins. It has niacin, probiotics etc...

For the brooder:
Like I said, we used Coco peat with burlap on top. We have a heat plate and a mason jar waterer. We just used a plastic lid to put their feed in and keep it filled. We also were giving them tiny cut up fresh greens as recommended from the book Storie's Guide to Raising Ducks.

Access to Swim:

Yes. We were giving them an opportunity to swim every day, and at first they loved it and would swim at least a bit. Once this all started, though they haven't wanted to swim. I've tried bathing them a few times with plain water and once with a little Epsom salt in water per someone's recommendation. They really don't want to swim now and they won't really clean their faces anymore now.

 

[wannabefarm girl]

I'm sure the baby is itchy all over and that may be the reason for dragging the head to itch. Have you check over for mites/lice?

Yes, I have checked for mites and lice, but I can't find anything.

The dragging and walking backwards is involuntary. She doesn't want to do it. It's like a spasm or something. It was so bad for a while one day that she couldn't make it to the food and water without help.

 

[wannabefarm girl]

Please post photos.

What are you feeding the ducklings? What is their bedding and what temperature is the brooder, now and earlier in their lives?

Are they biting each other at all?

We're feeding them a balanced feed mix with all the necessary vitamins and minerals like niacin etc... I started giving them a cooked egg every day now too.

Since the day we got them until this started we had them in a plastic tote with holes cut out for ventilation, a brooder plate that stays nice and warm, Coco peat with burlap on top for the bedding. They have free choice feed in a plastic dish (refilled as needed), and water in a mason jar waterer.

Now I have them in a new tote (because we didn't know what was going on and I wanted to eliminate mold and be able to monitor their poo) with paper towels down on the floor that we replace often. And the rest is pretty much the same as before.
(In an earlier reply to AshVau22 I give more details about the Coco peat bedding findings.)

I've been trying to notice any biting and I haven't seen any so far.

 

[wannabefarm girl]

Welcome to BYC. Can you post some pictures and a video?

Thank you for the welcome!
I've posted a few pics and attempted a video that seems to be waiting to be approved.

 

[wannabefarm girl]

I think the only way to upload video is to post on YouTube and share the link here. I've never done it but I think that's how you do it.

Thank you for the info.
I tried to make a video link and I'm not sure if it will work, but it says it's await approval or something.

 

[Goosebaby]

What brand of feed are they on or is it a home made mix?

Is a vet an option?

Severe vitamin A deficiency can cause pale dry flakey skin and abnormal growth of bills and nails. I’m not sure if that’s the issue here but it’s something to consider.
B5 and B7 deficiency can also cause dry flaky skin and a host of other issues.
Stargazing can be a result of a thiamine deficiency (B1) and wry neck can be a result of a vitamin E deficiency.

Vitamin deficiencies in general cause lack of appetite.

Besides that I would strongly suspect a bacterial skin infection, something maybe like staph (gangrenous dermatitis) or strep? Strep usually kills very quickly though.

If a vet is at all possible I would take them and have the skin tested for a bacterial or fungal infection.