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[Taffinq]

I have a wry neck duckling a couple days old, like 4-6 ish, and I have fed it boiled eggs because it has selenium, but it doesn't seem to work. The duckling's neck and head is curved downward to the ground and sometimes to its belly, and its head scrapes the ground.
Every website online says to feed wry neck ducklings vitamins or selenium, but I don't have vitamins, so is like foods that contain those vitamins able to cure the duckling?
Also, whenever I try to make a neck cast for the duckling and put it on so it can breathe, the duckling's neck is still jutted straight out, and I'm afraid it's gonna choke or have difficulty eating.
The duckling eats by pecking food off the ground, how do I make a neck cast so it holds the duckling's neck straight up, and can I feed it foods with vitamins to cure the neck?

 

[nuthatched]

I don't think a cast is possible. Get some liquid vitamins that come with a dropper. Or crush the vitamins into a slurry.
400 i.u vitamin E and a sliver of a B complex tablet

 

[Taffinq]

I don't think a cast is possible. Get some liquid vitamins that come with a dropper. Or crush the vitamins into a slurry.
400 i.u vitamin E and a sliver of a B complex tablet

how much do i feed it? also my parents won't buy the vitamins when I ask them to, and I can't buy them either because I'm a kid. Is there any other alternatives?

 

[nuthatched]

how much do i feed it? also my parents won't buy the vitamins when I ask them to, and I can't buy them either because I'm a kid. Is there any other alternatives?

Not really, but do you have any multivitamins?

 

[AmyA248]

I don't think a cast is possible. Get some liquid vitamins that come with a dropper. Or crush the vitamins into a slurry.
400 i.u vitamin E and a sliver of a B complex tablet

Here’s the cast I made for mine.

 

[AmyA248]

how much do i feed it? also my parents won't buy the vitamins when I ask them to, and I can't buy them either because I'm a kid. Is there any other alternatives?

I’m so sorry your parents won’t get you the vitamins hun. I’d be happy to send them to you.
Don’t make a cast, I made that mistake and it didn’t help at all. I was told it could injure the baby more.
I took the cast off last night and my duckling is much happier! Now she’s eating and drinking on her own instead of just laying on her blanket.
She seems a bit better today, but I’m giving her Nutra Drench, electrolytes, vitamin E, and scrambled eggs. I just read that she also needs selenium and niacin. Wry neck could be caused by a niacin deficiency.
Hold her and gently massage her neck to loosen the muscles. I take a warm cloth and apply heat several times a day along with her massage. Just make sure the cloth isn’t too hot. Hold it on her neck until it cools, then do it again for 15 minute intervals 4 times per day, more if possible.
Hold her and talk gently to her. TLC goes a long way. If she feels loved and not all alone it can definitely help.
Is she with other ducklings or alone?
Ducklings need companionship, that’s why it’s illegal to just purchase one.
If you can give her a mirror and a stuffed animal to snuggle up to, and make sure she has a blanket to lay on.
A mirror really helps a lone duckling, as they think it’s another duck!!
Is she inside with you or outside?
It’s important that these babies stay warm!
Is there anyway you could post some photos of her?
And please let me know if you’d like me to send you the vitamins she desperately needs. I just can’t imagine that your parents won’t help, I’m so sorry dear, as they are not even expensive at all.
It’s obvious that you care deeply for your duckling and it just breaks my heart.

There are so many kind people here, they have helped me save many of my ducklings lives and I truly don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t find this wonderful group!
Here is a photo from this morning!

Please let me know sweetie.

Kindly,
Amy

 

[AmyA248]

I don't think a cast is possible. Get some liquid vitamins that come with a dropper. Or crush the vitamins into a slurry.
400 i.u vitamin E and a sliver of a B complex tablet

This child’s parents won’t purchase the vitamins that the duckling needs. I don’t think they have any vitamins in the house either. It just breaks my heart because it’s obvious this child cares deeply about the duckling. I’m willing to ship the things that her duckling needs if she’ll let me.
I can’t imagine how sad this child must be because she’s trying so hard to help her little one!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Every website online says to feed wry neck ducklings vitamins or selenium, but I don't have vitamins, so is like foods that contain those vitamins able to cure the duckling?

Thiamine is required also.. (niacin deficiency cause leg issues)

https://blog.meyerhatchery.com/2017/08/wry-neck-in-chickens/

Go to the neighbors, your grand parents, a friend's parents, or whatever.. and get some, borrow some, etc. Also maybe don't get more animals since you parent s aren't willing (or able, I don't know their side of the story) to do what it takes if they need the simplest medical attention.

Here is a link that has some food sources as well as some antagonist for B1..

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-b1/

Please note that even if the neck doesn't go back to normal.. It can still lead a normal life.. There's a local boy affectionately referred to as Hunker Duck.. and the ladies still love him.

I wouldn't make a cast, personally.. that's not going to improve muscle strength. He still need to continue using it. Restriction is helpful when more damage may be caused.. In this case, I THINK it may actually cause more harm than good..

The duckling eats by pecking food off the ground

Is that a formulated duckling or poultry ration.. or just whatever human food you have on hand?

Here is a link to the required nutrients for waterfowl including growing ducklings, maybe it can help you get close to what's needed if you're trying to raise it without commercial feed..

https://www.metzerfarms.com/nutritional-requirements.html

The massaging and basic physical therapy/range of motion exercises is a good suggestion for supportive care during treatment.

 

[AmyA248]

Thiamine is required also.. (niacin deficiency cause leg issues)

https://blog.meyerhatchery.com/2017/08/wry-neck-in-chickens/

Go to the neighbors, your grand parents, a friend's parents, or whatever.. and get some, borrow some, etc. Also maybe don't get more animals since you parent s aren't willing (or able, I don't know their side of the story) to do what it takes if they need the simplest medical attention.

Here is a link that has some food sources as well as some antagonist for B1..

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-b1/

Please note that even if the neck doesn't go back to normal.. It can still lead a normal life.. There's a local boy affectionately referred to as Hunker Duck.. and the ladies still love him.

I wouldn't make a cast, personally.. that's not going to improve muscle strength. He still need to continue using it. Restriction is helpful when more damage may be caused.. In this case, I THINK it may actually cause more harm than good..


Is that a formulated duckling or poultry ration.. or just whatever human food you have on hand?

Here is a link to the required nutrients for waterfowl including growing ducklings, maybe it can help you get close to what's needed if you're trying to raise it without commercial feed..

https://www.metzerfarms.com/nutritional-requirements.html

The massaging and basic physical therapy/range of motion exercises is a good suggestion for supportive care during treatment.

This story breaks my heart. I offered to ship the vitamins the duckling needs, but I received no response.. She seems so concerned about her duckling but ignored my offer. I don’t understand why.

 

[AmyA248]

I’m so sorry your parents won’t get you the vitamins hun. I’d be happy to send them to you.
Don’t make a cast, I made that mistake and it didn’t help at all. I was told it could injure the baby more.
I took the cast off last night and my duckling is much happier! Now she’s eating and drinking on her own instead of just laying on her blanket.
She seems a bit better today, but I’m giving her Nutra Drench, electrolytes, vitamin E, and scrambled eggs. I just read that she also needs selenium and niacin. Wry neck could be caused by a niacin deficiency.
Hold her and gently massage her neck to loosen the muscles. I take a warm cloth and apply heat several times a day along with her massage. Just make sure the cloth isn’t too hot. Hold it on her neck until it cools, then do it again for 15 minute intervals 4 times per day, more if possible.
Hold her and talk gently to her. TLC goes a long way. If she feels loved and not all alone it can definitely help.
Is she with other ducklings or alone?
Ducklings need companionship, that’s why it’s illegal to just purchase one.
If you can give her a mirror and a stuffed animal to snuggle up to, and make sure she has a blanket to lay on.
A mirror really helps a lone duckling, as they think it’s another duck!!
Is she inside with you or outside?
It’s important that these babies stay warm!
Is there anyway you could post some photos of her?
And please let me know if you’d like me to send you the vitamins she desperately needs. I just can’t imagine that your parents won’t help, I’m so sorry dear, as they are not even expensive at all.
It’s obvious that you care deeply for your duckling and it just breaks my heart.

There are so many kind people here, they have helped me save many of my ducklings lives and I truly don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t find this wonderful group!
Here is a photo from this morning!

Please let me know sweetie.

Kindly,
Amy

Hi,

Well I offered to send you the vitamins you need for your duckling to recover, but I never received a response back.
I’d be more then happy to help but it seems that you’re not interested.
Everyone is trying to help you, as everyone here is so kind and supportive.
You could at least reply back and let us know how your duckling is doing, as we are all concerned and would appreciate an update on your little one…