Feeding with grit.

[Reese7383]

I just started adding grit to my ducklings crumbles. it says on the bag to monitor the bird for the first few days, but does not explain why. Is it possible one of my ducks is having a reaction to the grit? I've posted this elsewhere but just realized his diet has changed. His condition seems to worsen. while resting he voided a tiny redish brown turd. He later pooped pure thick slimey yellow and just laid in it. I had to bathe him. He's now under a bulb shaking and peeping. I'm assuming the shaking and peeping is due to being cold. Other than crumble with niacin and grit he gets peas twice a day, and grazes in the yard (if warm enough with supervision ) with his older siblings for about an hour.

HELP MY DUCKLING SEEMS SICK

My 13 day old duck baby seems to be sick, at least that's what I assume.

When it was time for an evening snack i noticed Lamont acting weird. The lil guy did not partake in snacktime. I observed him for a few minutes and He is quite lethargic, his eyes are glassy. His breaths seem to be a Tad rapid. He is also constantly peeping but very quiet. Hes been this way for about an hour. I'm very worried.
We have seperated him from the other 5, lying him on the bed sittin on paper towles. so we can keep a close watch.
I don't believe anything out of the ordinary has happened. He was hanging out with his 4 older peking friends inside before hand and was acting fine. Eating and drinking fine.
We put the pekings in there outdoor coop And returned to give the babies their snack.....

here's a picture of him... any advice would be amazing!

Here he is with the others. The black duck...with his head hung low... whereas the others are perked up.

 

[HEChicken]

I'm sorry - I have no idea what is wrong with the duckling and hope someone else can give you some advice on that. However I wanted to comment on the grit.

Grit is used by birds to help digest food. Since they have no teeth, they have to swallow all food whole and it then goes down into their crop and from there to their gizzard. Grit in the form of large grains of sand, and small pebbles that they either find for themselves when free-ranging, or are offered free choice if kept confined, is kept in the gizzard to grind down the food into useable pieces that can then move on through the digestive tract. So - you can think of grit as the bird's "teeth" rather than a food.

Because the same grit is used over and over to break down food, they only need a small amount at a time. Of course over time the grit itself is broken down and needs to be replaced - but because it is not a food, it doesn't need to be consumed with every meal. Rather than mixing it in with their food, it is better to offer a separate container of it free choice and allow them to ingest it when they know they need it - and, left to their own devices they really do know when to get more. So if you don't see them eating it everyday - or if the amount in the container doesn't seem to be going down very fast - that is no cause for alarm. It simply means they don't need to replace the grit in their crop that day.

I mentioned that they will find it for themselves when free-ranging. This is almost always the case. I have over 100 birds who free-range and I don't even offer grit to them. They find it on their own. If you are keeping them confined they won't have access to go out and find it, but here's the thing: if all they are eating is commercially prepared feed - crumbles or pellets - they don't need grit anyway. That food is already in a form that is broken down enough to digest without needing "chewing". So the only time a bird in confinement would need grit would be to aide in the digestion of food scraps that you feed in addition to their crumbles or pellets.

I hope that makes sense. Good luck with your duckling!

 

[Reese7383]

I'm sorry - I have no idea what is wrong with the duckling and hope someone else can give you some advice on that.  However I wanted to comment on the grit.

Grit is used by birds to help digest food.  Since they have no teeth, they have to swallow all food whole and it then goes down into their crop and from there to their gizzard.  Grit in the form of large grains of sand, and small pebbles that they either find for themselves when free-ranging, or are offered free choice if kept confined, is kept in the gizzard to grind down the food into useable pieces that can then move on through the digestive tract.  So - you can think of grit as the bird's "teeth" rather than a food.

Because the same grit is used over and over to break down food, they only need a small amount at a time.  Of course over time the grit itself is broken down and needs to be replaced - but because it is not a food, it doesn't need to be consumed with every meal.  Rather than mixing it in with their food, it is better to offer a separate container of it free choice and allow them to ingest it when they know they need it - and, left to their own devices they really do know when to get more.  So if you don't see them eating it everyday - or if the amount in the container doesn't seem to be going down very fast - that is no cause for alarm.  It simply means they don't need to replace the grit in their crop that day.

I mentioned that they will find it for themselves when free-ranging.  This is almost always the case.  I have over 100 birds who free-range and I don't even offer grit to them.  They find it on their own.  If you are keeping them confined they won't have access to go out and find it, but here's the thing: if all they are eating is commercially prepared feed - crumbles or pellets - they don't need grit anyway.  That food is already in a form that is broken down enough to digest without needing "chewing".  So the only time a bird in confinement would need grit would be to aide in the digestion of food scraps that you feed in addition to their crumbles or pellets.

I hope that makes sense.  Good luck with your duckling!

We were told since he grazes outside and we have a lettus garden, plus peas for a treat once a day, they needed grit. Now I'm panicked. I've been adding a small very small amount to their food every day. (9ducks in total)

 

[rides2far]

How is your duckling? I hope, fine.

 

[Reese7383]

No I think he's dying

 

[Amiga]

I responded to one of your threads.

 

[HEChicken]

We were told since he grazes outside and we have a lettus garden, plus peas for a treat once a day, they needed grit. Now I'm panicked. I've been adding a small very small amount to their food every day. (9ducks in total)

Okay, yeah, if they are getting out and eating that kind of stuff they will need grit. I would just stop adding it to their feed and put out a separate bowl for them to take it free choice when they need it. I wouldn't think the grit is the cause of your duckling's symptoms, but I am no expert. I hope he's doing better now.

 

[Reese7383]

no better no worse. it seems he's stabilized I am out in search of a syringe and tubing small enough