HELP 2week old duckling falling over

[hebbiegurl]

Hello, new to BYC. Someone please help
I have rescued a baby duck and he keeps falling over and getting suck on back, until we flip him back over but just falls again, and shakes and scratches his head a lot. I thought it was spay leg but read it was lack of niacin so he has been getting 100-150mg per 1 gal water he has been on this for 3-4 days now and no improvements
Unless we hold him he's on his back, I tried making slings walkers anything to keep him up right but nothing working, he's to squirmy
Yuh, I feel so bad for him
What do I do, feeling helpless
Someone please help
Thank you

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Hello, new to BYC. Someone please help
I have rescued a baby duck and he keeps falling over and getting suck on back, until we flip him back over but just falls again, and shakes and scratches his head a lot. I thought it was spay leg but read it was lack of niacin so he has been getting 100-150mg per 1 gal water he has been on this for 3-4 days now and no improvements
Unless we hold him he's on his back, I tried making slings walkers anything to keep him up right but nothing working, he's to squirmy
Yuh, I feel so bad for him
What do I do, feeling helpless
Someone please help
Thank you

It sounds like your duckling may have a condition called "stargazing" or "wry neck". There are multiple theories about the potential causes, including vitamin deficiency and neurological damage. If the cause is a vitamin deficiency, treating with a multivitamin supplement should help the problem resolve. I would use something like Poultry Nutri Drench so he'll get a broad range of vitamins and minerals.

Here's a thread that you may find helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1126121/muscovy-duckling-keeps-flipping-on-back.

Best of luck to you!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

you can try putting a couple drops of poly-vi-sol (baby vitamins) WITHOUT iron in its bill a couple times a day

Good luck!!!

 

[hebbiegurl]

Hello, thank you. I have tried the poli vi sol for babies and he gets worse again, he seems to do best when just water, but I know something is going on
I'm thinking I'll try brewers yeast but again there is so many kinds, what do I get, some have niacin and some dont, does it matter it's for dogs? Yuh, I'm so upset....
When issues like these come up, it tears me up, almost ready to find loving home for all my chickens n ducks

 

[Ducks4us]

Hello, thank you. I have tried the poli vi sol for babies and he gets worse again, he seems to do best when just water, but I know something is going on
I'm thinking I'll try brewers yeast but again there is so many kinds, what do I get, some have niacin and some dont, does it matter it's for dogs? Yuh, I'm so upset....
When issues like these come up, it tears me up, almost ready to find loving home for all my chickens n ducks

I would buy nutritional yeast- it has more niacin.
Brewers yeast has niacin too jut less
You buy it in powder form. And add 1 tablespoon per cup of feed
Its sold for people at natural health food stores or you can order online.
He definatley needs this in his food.
But his condition does sound pretty bad . Symptoms will not go away overnight. It will take time and care.
I know some people make a nest like circle thats deep, stick the ducklling down into it so there isnt room to tip back words.
Sorry your duckling is having so much trouble

And i would do the poultry nutri drench someone else already mentioned.
I know lots of people have good results with it.

 

[hebbiegurl]

Hello, thank you, I got the brewers yeast today but it's for dogs and cats, it's all I could find with out ordering on line, i believe it's probably the same, I crushed the pill and sprinkled very little in his water and also giving save a chick electrolytes, we did make a small bedding area, where he can move just a little, but he tries to climb out, determined little guy. lol guess we will have to wait and see what happens now

Thank you so much for everyone's help, we need time and prayers