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Duckling struggling with legs (getting niacin)

MommaGoose93

Hatching
Aug 14, 2022
1
1
6
Sorry for the long post:

This is our first year with mother ducks, but I raised said ducks last year.

We've hatched 19 ducklings so far, but the youngest is struggling with its legs.

It was born 4days ago and the first couple of days it seemed to be having issues walking but we figured it was new legs. Then it seemed to struggle getting out of the little pool and after a bit it was "tiredly" walking around. Tonight it couldn't get out of the pool by itself and it couldn't stand afterward. It seems to be regaining strength but I'm officially worried. The ducklings get duck food, have access to extra-egger chicken food (that they really don't bother).
This one just started leaving the coop, but has been in the yard for bugs and plants.
All other ducklings are growing like weeds with no issues.
 

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Are you feeding duckling starter food? That has the best nutrients if they're struggling. Maybe it's too young for the pond? I know that ducklings raised in nature go in the water early, but I waited a couple of weeks before letting my babies swim. This one could just be more fragile and need more nurturing - it's still so early! I had one duckling once that was struggling to eat even the tiny duckling starter and I had to take a hammer and crush it into tiny bits and dust so that it could eat and get what it needed. Make sure you keep a close eye and make sure it's warm and keeps eating and drinking. You can sprinkle nutritional yeast on top fo their food for an added niacin boost.
 
I think you need to give this little one Durvet high level Vit b complex urgently. It says injectable on the bottle but for ducks we give it orally. Give 1ml soaked into a treat and watch it eat it. Repeat daily until you see improvement, then add brewer's yeast or nutritiinal yeast to the starter crumbles while continuing to give durvet orally for a few days. Some ducks have greater need for niavin than others
 
Are these little ducklings with a mama duck? You might want to take this duckling inside so you can monitor it more closely for eating and drinking walking etc. Maybe bring another one in with it for a buddy while it recoups.
 

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