Duckling with problem leg

[karen l]

Hello. We have 10 5-day old ducklings. They all seemed healthy and fine for a few days. Last night the only male started limping and not walking on one leg. It doesn't look injured but today we can definitely tell he is not using it at all. He was a little smaller than the females but now we notice he is much smaller. It was the leg with the "male" tag on it which we have since removed. We are feeding them flock raiser. We have separated him and one other and are hand feeding with some added electrolytes hoping to build his strength . Any ideas or thoughts on what would cause this in such a young duckling and what to do about it? Thank you!

 

[Carcajou]

It could be a niacin deficiency. Though FlockRaiser generally has enough niacin for ducklings sometimes a duckling needs a little extra. You might try adding nutritional yeast to his food (tsp or so to 2 cups of feed) or get some niacin (nicotinic acid, not time release or non-flush) capsules and put one capsule (100mg) in a gallon of water.

Please keep us posted on your progress.

 

[samuelsonfarm]

I am having the same issue with one of my ducklings. I bought some nutritional yeast today to see if it helps. Please let us know how it's going.

 

[tomingreeneco]

Add the niacin to the drinking water as suggested above. The leg problem should clear right up.

 

[JoAnn42]

I am having that problem with only 2 of my ducks.If i put the niacin in the water how will it effect the ducks that do not have the problem

 

[Carcajou]

It will be okay, I haven't heard of niacin overdose. Or you could separate the ill ones.

 

[JoAnn42]

thank-you for the info

 

[karen l]

Thank you all for the help! We are trying the niacin and he seems to be a little better today. Hopefully that will do the trick!

 

[tomingreeneco]

I am having that problem with only 2 of my ducks.If i put the niacin in the water how will it effect the ducks that do not have the problem

Not all ducks will get the leg problems at the same time. All young ducks should be given the extra niacin to avoid any leg problems.

 

[karen l]

Happy to report that our little male duckling is doing much better! He is walking on the leg again with only a slight limp! Much better than Sat when he couldn't walk on it at all!! The niacin seemed to really help. He is still much smaller than the others so we are keeping him and another together so he can get a bit stronger. Thank you again!