Gimpy Duck

[Gwenduckmama]

Hey friends of fine feathered friends! I am new to chicken and duck rearing. I just got three ducks and one of them almost didn’t make it. The feed store said they will give me a new bird for free, she was really not looking good. The problem is her left foot is very underdeveloped and she has a hard time getting around. She does though! She hobble hop squirms her way to water and food, and can run to the corner and duck under her sisters when she’s scared. Aside from niacin, is there anything I can do for her? I don’t see any injury.

 

[nao57]

The others will tell you niacin deficiency is a good thing to look at for what you are describing.

It can be treated. But there's both a success rate for recovery and a failure to thrive rate also. I would try to get started on this or whatever you think it is right away. You can look up on Youtube what niacin deficiency is and how to treat it and how others dealt with it.

Common traits of niacin deficiency are unnatural clumsiness and trouble controlling limbs. Some of the others described having to help their ducklings eat while treating them for this. You can search and find there are many comments about this here.

But I only answered this because I didn't see anyone else helping you and wanted to help you get on it right away. Others would be better to talk to than me on this, as the others have more experience.

 

[Gwenduckmama]

Thank you! Yes, I’ll hazard the store and get her some brewers yeast. She’s still getting alternating electrolytes and probiotics.
She obviously has a will to live. I went to check in the birds last night and all the chickens and ducks were asleep except little Francis, who was sitting in her water dish singing her heart out.

 

[DuckyDonna]

You probably shouldn't have a water dish they can get into like that. She could drown or get very chilled. Do something this:

 

[Miss Lydia]

And skip the brewers yeast for any that are showing weakness and use liquid b complex, TSC carries Durvet liquid b complex. Best there is, it says injectable but we use it orally. This maybe a birth defect so please post pics. Also there are shoes for little ones you can do yourself so please post a pic and we’ll help anyway we can.

 

[Gwenduckmama]

Yay!!! I think she was actually injured in transport, because over the last day she started using her foot. Now she’s using both legs like a pro! She’s still incredibly tiny, maybe 1/4 the size of the Pekins, but they are incredible with her. If they sense any danger they jump ahead of her and stare it down, and when they settle, she’s always in the middle and they cross their bills over her.
Now I’m just looking up stuff about the growly stomach noise she’s making.

 

[nao57]

Yay!!! I think she was actually injured in transport, because over the last day she started using her foot. Now she’s using both legs like a pro! She’s still incredibly tiny, maybe 1/4 the size of the Pekins, but they are incredible with her. If they sense any danger they jump ahead of her and stare it down, and when they settle, she’s always in the middle and they cross their bills over her.
Now I’m just looking up stuff about the growly stomach noise she’s making.

Its good that you feel like its working out.

You know I had only gotten ducklings a few months ago. And most of them were pekins, but at the time I didn't know it. All I knew was that I thought 2 of them were runt charity cases.

Then they started growing.

Then as they got bigger, by the day their coats started changing colors. At some point around 4 or 5 weeks, I realized the 2 runts weren't runts at all, nor sick but just a different breed. The 3rd was a different breed also...

Part of the problem was the bigger 4 were all pekins so I was comparing them all to them. And pekins are larger as you know.

I just thought I'd related this because it is possible for things to work out.

 

[Gwenduckmama]

I knew the pekins would be bigger, but in this case the Swedish blue is actually a runt. The feed store was quite apprehensive about selling her because she was just so small and not looking like she was going to make it. I can tell she’s getting bigger too, but at a much slower rate. I swear the pekins grew two inches today.

 

[nao57]

I knew the pekins would be bigger, but in this case the Swedish blue is actually a runt. The feed store was quite apprehensive about selling her because she was just so small and not looking like she was going to make it. I can tell she’s getting bigger too, but at a much slower rate. I swear the pekins grew two inches today.

Well the Swedish Blue will have a happier life knowing the pekins have a better chance of becoming steak than he has.