[Health] 3 week old duckling having abnormal movements/reactions(?)

[ducknugget]

Newbie pet duck owner here. I need some help with my 3 week old duckling.

It’s kinda hard to explain what she does and I can’t access a video of her at the moment, but earlier today my duckling has suddenly been having seizure-like attacks and crawling around turning all wonky: She looks as if she was desperately looking for something with her head drilling on top of the ground while sliding backwards. After each spasm, she would stop to rest, and then stand back up and act as if nothing had happened!

Each of these weird spasms would last no longer than 10 second, my duckling keeps getting them throughout the day Today was the first day I’ve seen any duck act like this.

Apart from her (cured) mild niacin deficiency the day before, she was completely fine and healthy. What caused this to happen so unexpectedly and what is it? Does she need any professional help like a waterfowl vet?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

-Is she crested?
-What feed are you feeding?
-What is the brooder set up like?
-Is there anything she could get into?
-What temperature is the water you're giving her?
-Are there other ducklings or just her?
-When you say cured niacin deficiency the day before what symptoms was she exhibiting?

 

[ducknugget]

-Is she crested?
-What feed are you feeding?
-What is the brooder set up like?
-Is there anything she could get into?
-What temperature is the water you're giving her?
-Are there other ducklings or just her?
-When you say cured niacin deficiency the day before what symptoms was she exhibiting?

-No, she’s an American Pekin
-As we couldn’t find store bought duckling feed near, I usually give her defrosted peas and corn, small pieces of romaine lettuce, and kale. Occasionally, she’d dig up herself some worms and bugs on the ground
-We don’t have a brooder, she stays outside in a 6.5ft x 6.5ft wired cage. The cage itself is not 100% predator proof so we take her in the shed to sleep. Unless it’s not set up properly, she wouldn’t be able to get out by herself.
-As in dangerous areas? We have a pretty big garden. Whenever I let her out she tends to stay away from plants like tomatoes and eggplants and had never eaten any part of the plant
-Just a little above room temperature, but it’s possible that it could’ve gone up from the heat recently (average day temperature ranges from 24C - 34C)
-Technically, no other *ducklings*. Just an older female Pekin that stopped picking on her after she got used to her
-I noticed she wasn’t as active as before and wouldn’t want to walk. As soon as she started shaking and her legs were out of place, I immediately gave her more niacin rich food, which had helped the next day

 

[Isaac 0]

If you could get a quick video of her doing the motion next time, and post it here, that would be of much help.

-As we couldn’t find store bought duckling feed near, I usually give her defrosted peas and corn, small pieces of romaine lettuce, and kale. Occasionally, she’d dig up herself some worms and bugs on the ground

This diet is not nutritionally complete which could be creating nutritional deceits leading to some of the issues you are seeing.
I would highly suggest you search harder for a duck feed near your area.
If you cannot find one there are many brands such as Purina Flock Raiser/All Flock available that can be fed to ducklings.
Chick starter can be used, but extra niacin supplementation will need to be done.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I agree with the above comment 100%. Are you located in the US? If so there are plenty of online stores that deliver. I live in the middle of nowhere and I order Mazuri Waterfowl feed off of chewy.com that gets delivered.