Duckling not growing

[robsterrocklobster]

Last week, I received three Ancona ducklings and they seemed to be healthy. A week later, two are growing and thriving, but the third one doesn't eat much and has hardly grown at all (she's about half the size of the others now). She stands around and peeps, or cuddles with her sisters when they rest. She will come running if I offer an earthworm, but won't eat much of anything else. We keep Purina Flock Raiser in the brooder and sometimes offer worms or greens. I have tried ACV in the drinking water.

She walks fine (there is niacin in the water). She has energy on a rare occasion. I don't note any problems with the crop. She breathes okay. And the funny thing is, she was the biggest of the three when they arrived. Any ideas?

Thanks for reading.

 

[robsterrocklobster]

Last week, I received three Ancona ducklings and they seemed to be healthy. A week later, two are growing and thriving, but the third one doesn't eat much and has hardly grown at all (she's about half the size of the others now). She stands around and peeps, or cuddles with her sisters when they rest. She will come running if I offer an earthworm, but won't eat much of anything else. We keep Purina Flock Raiser in the brooder and sometimes offer worms or greens. I have tried ACV in the drinking water.

She walks fine (there is niacin in the water). She has energy on a rare occasion. I don't note any problems with the crop. She breathes okay. And the funny thing is, she was the biggest of the three when they arrived. Any ideas?

Thanks for reading.

I noticed tonight that her poop is watery. We put the three of them in a small pool and she was falling asleep standing up while her sisters played.

 

[Quatie]

Can you post pictures of your duckling?

Are you providing them with grit? If not, it could have become impacted from the treats. Pellets break down in their crop, but other food they need grit to break it down. If it doesn't breakdown it can get stuck or block their digestive track.

 

[robsterrocklobster]

Yes, we did provide grit, but not until a few days after she started eating worms. I had read not to give ducklings grit, but later found that was if they are eating only commercial feed. Last night, I gave her some electrolytes and she is doing much better today. She started grooming herself and rooting around with the others, something she didn't do before. I hope it continues.

I am in a rush to take my wife out for her birthday, but I will post pictures tonight or tomorrow. Thank you for the reply.

Can you post pictures of your duckling?

Are you providing them with grit? If not, it could have become impacted from the treats. Pellets break down in their crop, but other food they need grit to break it down. If it doesn't breakdown it can get stuck or block their digestive track.

 

[Quatie]

Yes, we did provide grit, but not until a few days after she started eating worms. I had read not to give ducklings grit, but later found that was if they are eating only commercial feed. Last night, I gave her some electrolytes and she is doing much better today. She started grooming herself and rooting around with the others, something she didn't do before. I hope it continues.

I am in a rush to take my wife out for her birthday, but I will post pictures tonight or tomorrow. Thank you for the reply.

That is great to hear it is doing better with electrolytes. You can try giving her some scrambled eggs. Scrambled duck eggs is better, but chicken eggs will work. It can give them some extra nutrients they need. I give it to my ducklings that are struggling. Not all ducks will eat it.

I hope your wife has a good birthday.

 

[robsterrocklobster]

Thanks! We had a great time at a Japanese restaurant.

I'll attach two pics (my phone picked up the heat lamp red, sorry) to show how much smaller the one was after a week. Fortunately, since having the electrolytes (and plenty of prayers) she has made a dramatic improvement. She has been acting like a normal duck ever since and has even grown a little.

In one pic, they are preparing for a pool party while we change the bedding in the brooder. Their actual brooder isn't that small.

 

[Quatie]

Thanks! We had a great time at a Japanese restaurant.

I'll attach two pics (my phone picked up the heat lamp red, sorry) to show how much smaller the one was after a week. Fortunately, since having the electrolytes (and plenty of prayers) she has made a dramatic improvement. She has been acting like a normal duck ever since and has even grown a little.

In one pic, they are preparing for a pool party while we change the bedding in the brooder. Their actual brooder isn't that small.

That is great to hear the electrolytes are helping. Sometimes they just need a little extra help. She is definitely a lot smaller. I would keep an eye for any other issues, but it sounds like she on the mend.

I have had two smaller ducks. One was not feed proper food her first week before I got her. She grew up just fine, but is small for her breed and has a stunted beak. Another one was a runner and she eventually ended up being my largest runner. But she struggled a bit at the beginning too. You can see how small she use to be. The chocolate one was a week older than the other two.