HELP!!!! DUCK IS NOT DOING GOOD!!!

[littlecreekfarm]

I have this month old pekin duckling that is sick. He is shaking, weak, and arches his back and keeps his head down....what could be wrong with him? He's been like this for days and is the smallest of four ducklings...please help

 

[OwlLover]

How is he now?

 

[littlecreekfarm]

The same

I gave him a warm bath but not helping.

 

[Amiga]

What has he been eating? It may be nervous system problems, which could be caused by a lack of niacin, but that is not the only possibility.

 

[littlecreekfarm]

What has he been eating? It may be nervous system problems, which could be caused by a lack of niacin, but that is not the only possibility.

Grower/Starter feed from southern states mostly. Sometimes layers feed. He free-ranges during the day. We think it is something with the nervous system.

 

[Amiga]

Start giving him 100 to 150 mg of niacin (not the no-flush kind, just plain old niacin from capsules at the drugstore) per gallon of water, and keep him on that, all the time, for about ten weeks. It should be fine for the other ducks to drink.

This is from Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, by the way, and seems to have helped a number of similarly stricken ducklings.

 

[littlecreekfarm]

Thanks so much I will try to get that very soon!

 

[Amiga]

Until you can get the niacin, get some sardines and give him a few pinches several times a day. That has niacin and B12 in it. I suggest you get it (either or both) as soon as possible. And let's hope that is what at least most of the problem is.

What else can you tell us about your ducks? Is everyone else doing well? Any scoundrels in the flock?

 

[littlecreekfarm]

Until you can get the niacin, get some sardines and give him a few pinches several times a day. That has niacin and B12 in it. I suggest you get it (either or both) as soon as possible. And let's hope that is what at least most of the problem is.

What else can you tell us about your ducks? Is everyone else doing well? Any scoundrels in the flock?

Okay I got the stuff. It's okay for the other ducks right? I only have 3 other ducks and a bunch of chickens. Well they free range, have a tub of water to swim in, they are HUGE ducks, he's pekin, not sure on gender, about 6 weeks, I got him from our local feed store at two weeks old, He's the only one like this. I have 38 chickens, none are like him, I also have 2 quail and 2 pheasants, all healthy. I recently had a rooster that had what we believe was Marek's, couldn't walk, very weak, wouldn't eat or drink)I had to tube feed him, and was gasping, we put him down though. But to me the symptoms my duckling is showing isn't the same. Lemme take a picture of the way he is......

 

[Tahai]

Niacin is safe for all your waterfowl. If you have hard pills, I found mine did not dissolve well in water, so I just crush it into powder and sprinkle it on to the food. I dampen the food with a mister bottle to get the powder to stick and not settle on the bottom.

Good luck