Duckling with REALLY smelly runny poo. How do I tell if something is wrong?

[ShellyH22]

I have 3 pekin ducklings (3 weeks old) and about 4 days ago one of them ate a piece of Yesterdays News litter (newspaper pellets). I use this litter for my pet rats. I didn't realize that the piece of litter was on the floor until my duckling was gulping it down! Since then the duckling has acted fine, however, it has had really smelly diarrhea-like poop. It doesn't have any solids in it at all and ranges from dark drown to an orange-ish brown. I'm not sure if it has this kind of poop all the time because I have 3 ducks living together. But every time I've actually witness it going, it has been the really runny and smelly stuff.

I've read a little about ducks with intestinal blockage and I REALLY hope that isn't the case here. It seems to be eating and drinking normally. 99% of the time it is behaving like the other two, but on occasion I see it laying when the other two are up moving around. Up until this point, if one of them did something, the other two would follow. All three of my ducklings only eat their duckling starter food…no treats yet. My other two seem to have normal bowel movements.

My duckies get a little water playtime every day in my bathtub. I was hoping the warm water would help.
Has anyone ever had this problem before? I am open to any home remedy suggestions.

 

[ShellyH22]

Ok, so the duckling now has a little bit of solids in it's stool. But it still is orange/brown and smells awful!

 

[Amiga]

Is it getting any high protein treats? Are you adding any chick grit yet? What is their diet?

Smelly poos happen from time to time, also. I think someone here used to call it The Seventh Poop.

And I have one duck who has always had runnier poop.

Good you are watching - sometimes these are signs of illness.

 

[ShellyH22]

Currently they are only eating Dumor chick starter/grower. The salesman at Tractor Supply said to feed them this until their feathers come in. Then to switch to pellets and add grit. I also have a second duckling whos poop is ok, but seems to lay down a lot. I'm wondering if they are getting all of the vitamins they need.

 

[Amiga]

I am hearing from a number of people that for ducklings there is insufficient niacin and perhaps other vitamins in Dumor.

I would start with brewer's yeast daily and poultry multivitamins weekly.