Duckling lethargic and losing weight

CurlyQuail

Songster
Jun 20, 2020
328
296
126
Los Angeles, CA, USA
My first time owning ducks has not gone to plan. Lost one to pasty butt over night and another had recently become lethargic and losing weight.

Hershey
-week old female runner
-eating chick starter mixed with Brewer’s yeast
-the ducklings got chick grit for the first time today and she pooped it out an hour later
-I have been giving her separate feeding time 3-4 times a day as I noticed the others wouldn’t let her eat
-poops look normal, not too runny or too dry
-I picked up some chick probiotics and put it in her water around noon. It’s 5pm now and she seems more active but she’s losing even more weight
-I contacted the breeder (Metzer Farms) and they approved the probiotics I gave her
-She’s reluctant to eat from a feeder but if I get the food wet and hand feed her she eats like a pig
-She looks the same as our other ducks, just drastically smaller (as in, no swelling, color loss, cuts, etc)

Her Weight
6/26 - 41 grams
6/27 - 35 grams (noticed the others were picking on her)
6/28 - 47 grams (started giving her separate feeding time)
6/29 - 39 grams
6/30 - 39 grams in the morning, 41 before bed
7/1 - 38 grams in the morning, 37 at noon, 36 now

For reference the other four ducklings are between 58 and 66 grams today

Anyone know what’s wrong? Or how I can get her to gain weight? Is it serious enough that I should go to a vet? I’d rather avoid the big bills unless it’s dire. Any help or advice is welcome!
 

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Update in case it helps anyone in the future:

The probiotics worked wonders! It’s now 8pm and she’s eaten on her own several times, she’s playing with the others, and she’s 42 grams now!! Still not sure what made her under the weather but this definitely helped! I used Chick Boost Probiotics in the water
 

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