Ducklings are plodding around like they have lead in their feet

[CayugaJana]

She feels like she has baby fat, but I feel muscle as well. Her legs actually seem to have a lot of muscle.

I don't think it's a lack of room or boredom issue. When I put them outside yesterday, she still wanted to just sit down. She'd take 2-3 steps and then plop down, as if her legs couldn't handle the pressure.

It's too cool right now here to let them outside, but I'll try again later.

This is the classic symptoms my ducks have had when they need more niacin. I gave them the liquid be complex and within a week they were better.

I had them on nutritional yeast and then yesterday I got some Niacin capsules and started putting that in their soupy food.

I'm wondering if ducklings can have niacin absorption issues.

I can try the B complex liquid.

Ducks, especially ducklings are highly sensitive to niacin deficiencies because it is required for growth. And ducks can’t make their own niacin very well like most mammals. Ducks need about 4X the amount of niacin than we do because they just aren’t good at making it themselves. So if you have a duckling forming in the egg that’s already deficient, it will take a lot more for that duckling to catch up and become healthy. And like you said, I believe ducks can be like us in that some of them just aren’t as good at absorbing what they need to as others.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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[casportpony]

She is heavier than the other ducklings. If she needs something with less protein, what do I feed her?

I would not change her feed. Maybe give less or don't feed at night.

 

[casportpony]

That one might be difficult to sort out, as the other 2 ducklings are lighter and need that nourishment. The other runner duck is considerably lighter.

Just stick with the Mazuri and add some B complex.

 

[austroberta]

This is the classic symptoms my ducks have had when they need more niacin. I gave them the liquid be complex and within a week they were better.


Ducks, especially ducklings are highly sensitive to niacin deficiencies because it is required for growth. And ducks can’t make their own niacin very well like most mammals. Ducks need about 4X the amount of niacin than we do because they just aren’t good at making it themselves. So if you have a duckling forming in the egg that’s already deficient, it will take a lot more for that duckling to catch up and become healthy. And like you said, I believe ducks can be like us in that some of them just aren’t as good at absorbing what they need to as others.

Bless you, CayugaJana! I was hoping that someone who had experienced this before would let me know their experience. Do I buy the trilingual b complex that I put in her beak?

 

[Miss Lydia]

@CayugaJana

 

[casportpony]

Do I buy the trilingual b complex that I put in her beak?

I bought this:


one can also use this, but I don't think there are any Tractor Supply stores near you, right?:

 

[CayugaJana]

I bought this:
View attachment 1533225

one can also use this, but I don't think there are any Tractor Supply stores near you, right?:
View attachment 1533228

 

[austroberta]

I bought this:
View attachment 1533225

one can also use this, but I don't think there are any Tractor Supply stores near you, right?:
View attachment 1533228

I do have a tractor supply store that's somewhat nearby, but I can't get there today. I do have a Walgreens that's 5 minutes away and they have the sublingual type. How many droplets do I put and do I have to worry about it getting in her throat rather than her crop?

A million thanks everyone!

 

[casportpony]

Have you seen this?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

That's how I give oral meds. If you aren't comfortable doing that maybe you could find a way to mix it in their food.

@CayugaJana, what do you do?