excessive drinking after antibiotics - 2 week old Indian runner ducklings

[Apolinne]

Hello friends,
I need some advice. It is my first time raising ducklings - I have 8 Indian runners, 2 weeks old. They are on antibiotics called Tiagal (tiamulinum) for some sneezing and eye discharge. Today is the fourth and last day of treatment - the eye discharge and sneezing is much improved, almost gone but since I started the antibiotics the ducklings have been drinking a lot more water than before and some of them seem to have mild diarrhea. This worries me greatly, because I have seen a lot of people asking about excessive drinking when it comes to duck health issues, but no one really explains why it's bad or what it is a symptom of. Also two of them have been sitting down a lot more than the rest, and their legs were always shaking right before they plopped down. I read here that it can be a sign of calcium deficiency, so I supplemented extra calcium yesterday, and today they seem to be doing better, walking and standing a bit more, no shaking. The vet won't be available for 3 more days and I'm really worried about the drinking and the diarrhea. Could it be the antibiotics making them thirstier so they drink the medicated water or is there something wrong ? Why the diarrhea and why only some of them ? Could the two ducklings who have trouble standing be showing signs of worsening symptoms even if the sneezing subsided ? (They have a big brooder set up with a heat lamp at 27C and a heating plate at 30C, because of the last baby who was born late, I feed them specialised duckling feed that should have 20mg of niacin per Kg, with the addition of boiled eggs and potatoes, some nettle and sage and the occasional cucumber for a treat, now supplementing calcium grit, the bedding is wood pellets)
Please help and thank you.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Drinking a lot of water is a good thing, especially in ducks. The thirst could very well be from the antibiotic.
Ducklings are more precocial than chicks. I don't think they need heat anymore. I would remove it and see what happens. Only return the heat if they huddle.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hello friends,
I need some advice. It is my first time raising ducklings - I have 8 Indian runners, 2 weeks old. They are on antibiotics called Tiagal (tiamulinum) for some sneezing and eye discharge. Today is the fourth and last day of treatment - the eye discharge and sneezing is much improved, almost gone but since I started the antibiotics the ducklings have been drinking a lot more water than before and some of them seem to have mild diarrhea. This worries me greatly, because I have seen a lot of people asking about excessive drinking when it comes to duck health issues, but no one really explains why it's bad or what it is a symptom of. Also two of them have been sitting down a lot more than the rest, and their legs were always shaking right before they plopped down. I read here that it can be a sign of calcium deficiency, so I supplemented extra calcium yesterday, and today they seem to be doing better, walking and standing a bit more, no shaking. The vet won't be available for 3 more days and I'm really worried about the drinking and the diarrhea. Could it be the antibiotics making them thirstier so they drink the medicated water or is there something wrong ? Why the diarrhea and why only some of them ? Could the two ducklings who have trouble standing be showing signs of worsening symptoms even if the sneezing subsided ? (They have a big brooder set up with a heat lamp at 27C and a heating plate at 30C, because of the last baby who was born late, I feed them specialised duckling feed that should have 20mg of niacin per Kg, with the addition of boiled eggs and potatoes, some nettle and sage and the occasional cucumber for a treat, now supplementing calcium grit, the bedding is wood pellets)
Please help and thank you.

Shaky legs are most likely a sign of niacin deficiency. many times feeding the best feed with good niacin in it we can still have one or more get a deficiency. I would stop the calcium it will be hard on their kidneys they don't need a calcium supplement until laying age. Ducks/duckling drink a lot of water that is for sure and it causes their poo to be runny watery, So it could be from the antibiotic or just because ducks like water. I'd give them a probiotic after done with the antibiotic since antibiotics kill off good and bad bacteria. Which can also cause an upset tummy. If you can get liquid B Complex TSC carries it called Durvet Liquid B complex and start your ducklings on it the shaky legs should clear up. It will say injectable but we use it orally for our waterfowl.Don't put it into their water only it dilutes it down too much put it over a small amount of feed so you know they are getting the right dose and most likely feed the 2 with shaky leg separate. It's okay to add it to their water I do that with all my ducklings but when we have some already showing symptoms they need to have it orally so we can make sure they are getting the proper dose.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

 

[Apolinne]

Drinking a lot of water is a good thing, especially in ducks. The thirst could very well be from the antibiotic.
Ducklings are more precocial than chicks. I don't think they need heat anymore. I would remove it and see what happens. Only return the heat if they huddle.

Really ? Every article recommends weaning them of the heat gradually, I just adjusted it to 24-25°c for the next week or so. Also the vet said to be careful with big temperature changes. They spend most of their time scattered under the lamp, even though they have plenty of space to run around. And they sleep under the heating plate, probably for shelter, although it can get cold during the night. I was going to start taking them outside, but the vet said not to, at least until their symptoms go away completely. But I am glad to hear someone say the water drinking is ok.

 

[Apolinne]

Shaky legs are most likely a sign of niacin deficiency. many times feeding the best feed with good niacin in it we can still have one or more get a deficiency. I would stop the calcium it will be hard on their kidneys they don't need a calcium supplement until laying age. Ducks/duckling drink a lot of water that is for sure and it causes their poo to be runny watery, So it could be from the antibiotic or just because ducks like water. I'd give them a probiotic after done with the antibiotic since antibiotics kill off good and bad bacteria. Which can also cause an upset tummy. If you can get liquid B Complex TSC carries it called Durvet Liquid B complex and start your ducklings on it the shaky legs should clear up. It will say injectable but we use it orally for our waterfowl.Don't put it into their water only it dilutes it down too much put it over a small amount of feed so you know they are getting the right dose and most likely feed the 2 with shaky leg separate. It's okay to add it to their water I do that with all my ducklings but when we have some already showing symptoms they need to have it orally so we can make sure they are getting the proper dose.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

Thank you I think you're right, I ordered the B complex and probiotics, but they still haven't arrived, hopefully tomorrow. I've stopped the calcium grit and I've been feeding them some nutritional yeast in the meantime. I couldn't find any no flush niacin in any pharmacy near me. I noticed more ducklings getting weak legs and it says in the article that the shaky legs can be due to too much calcium, which causes them to not have enough manganese. I hope I didn't hurt my duckies with the calcium.
In the article it says 1ml or 100mg of niacin per day, that is per one duckling I assume, yes ? also my duck feed has 20mg niacin per kilo and the article says it should be 50. So maybe they are all not getting enough niacin ? How do I know which it is ? the manganese or the niacin?
Another thing I noticed today is two of the duckling that were fine previously and one of the wobbly legs guys were panting, and I doubt it's overheating, because the room they are in is like 24C. They are eating fine, they drink water, they enjoy their swimming time - I don't think they're stressed, can they have a fever ? how do I find out if they have a fever ? I don't want to stress them on top of everything by taking them to the vet. I'm on the verge of tears at this point.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The 1 ml is for each duckling one member just put it over mealworms and her ducklings that had shaky legs recovered quickly. Nutritional yeast is very good for them so you’re on the right track. As for fever I can’t say but it sounds like they are doing well and enjoying life. Just get them on the BComplex and hopefully that will clear up the leg problems.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Everyone pretty much covered everything I just wanted to add that diarrhea is fairly common while on and even for awhile after taking antibiotics. The reason is that antibiotics kill both the good and bad bacteria. When the good bacteria is killed this creates an imbalance in their gut which can lead to immune system weakness as well. That is why you should always give probiotics after finishing antibiotics to repopulate the healthy bacteria in their gut.

 

[Apolinne]

Hello friends!
Thank you everyone for your advice <3 I have some good news and some worries, but hopefully it's nothing.
The B complex arrived finally ! Today is the sixth day since I started giving B-complex and probiotics. Not too much change in two of the three duckies with wobbly legs, but the worst affected duckie (currently named Vigo) is much more enthusiastic to walk and run, which gives me hope he is improving, even though his legs still shake. I know it can take as much as two weeks so fingers crossed. One duckling (we call her Lady duck, because she is very majestic) is totally fine already - no shaking or plopping on the floor - however she keeps having this ugly brown watery diarrhea. Other duckies poop like that sometimes, but she does all the time I'm watching her closely, she seems fine otherwise, maybe she just need more time on the probiotics. Should I be worried ?
Other good news is: I didn't see any more panting from anyone, so maybe that was just some discomfort or stress ? Not sure what would cause it but they are fine now, which is great!
Question: Should I keep giving 1ml of B-complex to Lady duck separately even if she shows no symptoms anymore, or should I stop and just have her drink B complex in water with all the other healthy duckies ? The article on niacin deficiency says to keep the treatment going for couple of weeks but I'm worried about overdose.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Great news!! as for treating Lady Duck it is a good idea once symptoms subside to continue treatment for at least a week then you can start with water. B vitamins are water-soluble so less of a chance of overdose they pee out what they don't need. Just keep up with the ones that are still wobbly.
Also what are you feeding including any treats? and what probiotic are you using is it specifically for poultry? Asking because there are foods like Mealworms that can cause stinky brown watery poop. And ducks do have watery poop because they drink so much water.

 

[Apolinne]

Great news!! as for treating Lady Duck it is a good idea once symptoms subside to continue treatment for at least a week then you can start with water. B vitamins are water-soluble so less of a chance of overdose they pee out what they don't need. Just keep up with the ones that are still wobbly.
Also what are you feeding including any treats? and what probiotic are you using is it specifically for poultry? Asking because there are foods like Mealworms that can cause stinky brown watery poop. And ducks do have watery poop because they drink so much water.

Hello Miss Lydia, thank you for you advice.
They have unrestricted access to dry duck starter feed and 3 - 4 times a day I mix about a 1/3 of the dry food with about 2/3 of boiled sweet potato or boiled eggs with some greens, mostly dandelion greens, clover greens, sage or nettle. They absolutely demolish that in seconds every time. For treats I give them raw cucumber every other day or so and they had some watermelon, like 3 times since they hatched. Sometimes I offer mushed peas, and sometimes they love it, other times they look at me like:"Excuse me garçon, this is not what we ordered." I'm not sure why
And they usually eat some ants and I have seen some of them catch flies and even bees when they are outside. I never gave them meal worms, should I ?
Oh and the probiotics, according to the label, are suitable for geese, ducks, turkeys, pigeons and exotic birds. It says the active ingredient is Lactobacillus fermentum.