Duckling not growing.

[stripedgirls707]

@FunnyfarmMidwest also has a very small duckling. I just wanted to tag her so you guys could chat. I know the breeds are different, but it's relative, in my opinion. I wish you the best

Oh thank you so much! Everything helps

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Oh thank you so much! Everything helps

@FunnyfarmMidwest has Bobbles and he is the cutest little thing! I call him a cutie slice because he's not big enough to be a cutie pie! He's adorable. I suspect possible dwarfism could be a factor but of course it's merely an opinion. I agree with others on keeping your duckling warm enough, well fed and with appropriate supplements like Niacin

 

[stripedgirls707]

@FunnyfarmMidwest has Bobbles and he is the cutest little thing! I call him a cutie slice because he's not big enough to be a cutie pie! He's adorable. I suspect possible dwarfism could be a factor but of course it's merely an opinion. I agree with others on keeping your duckling warm enough, well fed and with appropriate supplements like Niacin

bobbles sounds SO cute! I’m going to look for that babe and his mama I did read a tiny bit about possible dwarfism, now that you mention that! But I can’t find much About it?! Junie stays under the warmer more than her gigantic broodermates for sure.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

@FunnyfarmMidwest also has a very small duckling. I just wanted to tag her so you guys could chat. I know the breeds are different, but it's relative, in my opinion. I wish you the best

Thanks so much for the tag @HeatherKellyB ! I’m happy to share my experience! I have had two ducklings in the past few months that have been very small and grown much slower than their siblings.
The one I have now (Bobbles is 4-5 weeks old and) is still the size of a week old duckling. He eats a ton but has been growing very slowly. He didn’t begin feathering in till this week. Despite his tiny size, he is doing great. I’m not sure what causes it but sometimes there are just smaller ones that grow at a different rate. I’ve been giving him extra feeding sessions away from the others, supplementing with B vitamins, and just giving him a bit of extra care. His siblings are already fully feathered and almost full size

here’s my first one that was tiny, it was like 3x smaller than its siblings and feathered in much slower. He is now fully grown and caught up in size with it’s siblings. He didn’t start growing till around 5 weeks.

Here’s the fella compared to his siblings then him now.
3 weeks

8 weeks (now) :

Here’s bobbles with a day old duckling. (He was 2 1/2 weeks old)

Here’s bobbles at 3 1/2 weeks old:

Here’s Bobbles now at 4 1/2 weeks old

Here’s his sibling who is the same age;

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

@FunnyfarmMidwest has Bobbles and he is the cutest little thing! I call him a cutie slice because he's not big enough to be a cutie pie! He's adorable. I suspect possible dwarfism could be a factor but of course it's merely an opinion. I agree with others on keeping your duckling warm enough, well fed and with appropriate supplements like Niacin

@HeatherKellyB it makes me so happy to know you’re thinking of me and my little cutie slice! I do think that Bobbles has a form of dwarfism. Despite though, he is thriving and doing very well. Yes, I have noticed that Bobbles cannot regulate his temperature very well so heat is important. If he is without the heat lamp for a long time he shivers. The supplements have definitely helped too. Thanks!
@stripedgirls707 great luck with little Juniper, she/he is such a cutie!

Bobbles just a tiny thing and he has the most beautiful big eyes!

 

[stripedgirls707]

@FunnyfarmMidwest WOW thank you SO much, those photos and your experience helps give me hope! Bobbles is way cute!

 

[stripedgirls707]

@HeatherKellyB it makes me so happy to know you’re thinking of me and my little cutie slice! I do think that Bobbles has a form of dwarfism. Despite though, he is thriving and doing very well. Yes, I have noticed that Bobbles cannot regulate his temperature very well so heat is important. If he is without the heat lamp for a long time he shivers. The supplements have definitely helped too. Thanks!
@stripedgirls707 great luck with little Juniper, she/he is such a cutie!

Bobbles just a tiny thing and he has the most beautiful big eyes!

View attachment 2650951View attachment 2650952

Yes, @HeatherKellyB thank you for tagging - this community is so awesome.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

@FunnyfarmMidwest WOW thank you SO much, those photos and your experience helps give me hope! Bobbles is way cute!

Of course! I will definitely be following little Juniper’s journey! Such a little sweetie, and that first picture is beyond adorable! I’m really hoping the little sweetie does good!

 

[stripedgirls707]

Updated photos of the three 8-10ish day old ducklings.

 

[stripedgirls707]

Today juniper is 3.9 oz... but- I feel like maybe her head is growing more Than her body.... also, she has this little lump... I was starting to think we were getting out of the woods, but something isn’t right. She just isn’t looking so hot Today Super slumpy, legs weak, and now I’m noticing this lump/ inside and slightly outside her belly.