Foot/vent issues

[docdubz]

I have 4 ducklings that I've had about a week now (not sure how long the feed store had them) I'm guessing they are about 2 weeks old. I'm not sure what breeds they are, I think one is a fawn, one a peking and the other two I have no idea. The peking? and fawn? have both tripled or quadrupled in size over the past week, the other two haven't grown noticeably.

I've been struggling to keep their brooder dry, and have been giving them fresh bedding twice a day minimum. The peking? and fawn? both have brown buildup in the cracks of their feet/ankles, it does not look or feel like scabs, I gave them a warm bath and tried gently cleaning their feet but it doesn't seem to have accomplished anything. One of the ducks that I don't have a clue what breed it is has patches of the bottom of it's foot miscolored almost like skin has peeled off, and this one also has something wrong with it's vent, at first I thought it was pastybutt but after a soak it looks more like a prolapsed vent to me. The forth duckling has nothing wrong with it that I can see. All 4 ducks do not seem bothered by these problems, they are very energetic and moving around normally.

They are eating chicken starter crumbles and are on straw bedding.

 

[EverythingDucks]

Looks like pasty butt.. I don't know about that foot though
@Miss Lydia @Isaac 0 ?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Please post some pictures of your brooder set up. What your using for waterer. The straw could be the problem their feet are pretty tender when young like yours.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Also since your feeding chick starter and you have a Pekin you really need to give them adequate niacin since chick feed doesn’t have near enough they need for strong legs. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/. As for the vent issue I am not sure what is going on there are they having trouble pooping ?

 

[Miss Lydia]

@docdubz can you answer the questions? We’d like to help you with your ducklings.

 

[docdubz]

Sorry I have terrible internet connection out where I live. I was only able to upload pictures yesterday because I was out in town picking up supplies. the brooder is a large plastic storage bin, the waterer is a quart bottle with a wide/shallow plastic dish. I know about the niacin but haven't been able to find any supplements. I've been trying to feed them peas but they don't seem super interested in them. They will play/make a mess with them but don't eat them. I may have found a store that might have Brewer's yeast so hopefully they will have it in stock.

Also, they don't seem to have a problem pooping. Especially not when I let them have their daily swim.

 

[DuckyDonna]

First of all, they probably need a bigger brooder! Do you have a kid's swimming pool? I'm sure the stores will have them at this time of the year and they should be about $15 at the most. Once they start to want to climb out of it get some cardboard and stand it up all around it.

You don't say where you are on your profile so it's hard to recommend a place to go get supplies. I'd say that for more niacin you can order some "NOW" nutritional yeast from amazon. It's better than Brewer's yeast. Get the fortified flakes and add that to their food. I would also start them on B-complex asap which is super good for them. That can be found at Tractor Supply.

Here is my progression of waterers. I start with a cool whip container and cut small holes in the top so they can get their heads in but not their bodies.

Then we move onto this:

After that, it's pretty much just a plain bucket that used to have laundry soap in it.

 

[docdubz]

Thanks for your input. I'm in central texas between Waco and Dallas. The storage container that I have them in now is pretty large (4'x2.5') but I will get them in a kiddie pool later today. What should I do about the bedding if the straw is hurting their feet? They seem very 'mouthy' with pine shavings and I'm worried about them eating it. Are those dog pads that you have down in the kiddie pool?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes pee pads work great. Kiddy pools are great brooders too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nutritional-yeast-vs-brewers-yeast.1393856/