HELP! Duckling having seizures?!

[emziepixie]

My ducklings are now 3 and a half weeks old, and today I saw one of the 5 have what I think was a seizure. He was spasming and turned his head right back on himself, then sat there for a bit before getting up again. I've never seen this before and I'm really unsure of what to do or if its some sort of disease? and if it is should I separate him from the other ducklings as I don't wish for it to hurt all of them. I really don't want to have to lose one, but if she's suffering then I'll have to do something about it? I'd really appreciate any input as I truly have no idea whats happening to her. Thanks

 

[chickens really]

Give more info as to what your feeding them....You will get over loaded with replies...
I have never had this issue with Ducklings...More info on all you do for them is needed....

 

[emziepixie]

Okay so I'm currently keeping them in a stable with a heat lamp, on shavings and just feed them the normal food, non-medicated chick feed. during the day they go out except when it's raining as they are still quite young. She's a khaki Campbell, and the only thing that makes her different than the other 4 (besides breed 2 khaki, 2 Aylesbury 1 Cayuga) is that she had a complicated hatch.. she was rocking 48 hours early but seemed to run out of energy and after piping a small whole stopped moving completely. (I'm not sure if she had no room in the egg and that's somehow affected how she is now?) after 48 hours of no movement in the egg since piping we decided to help her as we weren't even sure if she was alive at this point. had pulled back some shell and membrane and there was blood so we stopped and left her for an hour or so to try and get her own way out, after this time she still had made no further progress so I had to completely get her out of the shell as I thought with no energy she would die. she still had a small amount of her yolk sack so she obviously wasn't ready to hatch but with all the others hatching she must of started too early, but after about an hour under the heat lamp, the yolk sack cleared and she's been growing stronger an seemed healthy since. that is until today when I saw her have a seizure and I'm not sure if her past is affecting what's happening or not? Hope that's enough detail, if I've missed anything please tell me, I want to help her if possible

 

[Amiga]

I am going to guess she needs B vitamins, and I have a little writeup I did to compile what I have read and seen on the forums and other duck literature.


I would go with brewer's yeast. Forgive me for using capital letters, but for anyone else who may casually look over this thread, NOT baking yeast, NOT winemaking yeast. Brewer's yeast is a nutritional supplement and it provides niacin and a few other vitamins.

Generally, folks who supplement with brewer’s yeast use a tablespoon per cup of food.

Ducklings need about three times the niacin chicks do. And some ducklings get leg problems or seizures if they don't have enough niacin.

If you cannot find the brewer's yeast, or if you happen to have (here come the capital letters again, please forgive me) PLAIN niacin - NOT no-flush, NOT timed release, then dissolve 150 mg niacin per gallon of water for the duckling’s drinking water.

Another approach is to use B Complex capsules, and use the B3 - niacin - levels as a guide. Again, 150 mg B3 per gallon of drinking water.


Keep the little one on the supplements for about 8 weeks.

Sometimes it only takes a few days to see improvement.

You can also see how it went for Qwackers and Bentley from these threads.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/857143/treating-wry-neck-in-crested-duckling-edited-title

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/761308/peking-duckling-with-crooked-neck-help

 

[emziepixie]

I am going to guess she needs B vitamins, and I have a little writeup I did to compile what I have read and seen on the forums and other duck literature.


I would go with brewer's yeast.  Forgive me for using capital letters, but for anyone else who may casually look over this thread, NOT baking yeast, NOT winemaking yeast.  Brewer's yeast is a nutritional supplement and it provides niacin and a few other vitamins.

Generally, folks who supplement with brewer’s yeast use a tablespoon per cup of food.

Ducklings need about three times the niacin chicks do.  And some ducklings get leg problems or seizures if they don't have enough niacin.

If you cannot find the brewer's yeast, or if you happen to have (here come the capital letters again, please forgive me) PLAIN niacin - NOT no-flush, NOT timed release, then dissolve 150 mg niacin per gallon of water for the duckling’s drinking water.

[COLOR=262626]Another approach is to use B Complex capsules, and use the B3 - niacin - levels as a guide.  Again,  150 mg B3 per gallon of drinking water.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=262626] [/COLOR]

Keep the little one on the supplements for about 8 weeks.  

Sometimes it only takes a few days to see improvement.

You can also see how it went for Qwackers and Bentley from these threads.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/857143/treating-wry-neck-in-crested-duckling-edited-title

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/761308/peking-duckling-with-crooked-neck-help

Okay will I find Brewers yeast in a pet shop or will it have to be a supermarket? Also will it matter if it's not that, or will it just give some extra vitamins? Thanks for your help

 

[Ravynscroft]

Okay will I find Brewers yeast in a pet shop or will it have to be a supermarket? Also will it matter if it's not that, or will it just give some extra vitamins? Thanks for your help

You usually won't find brewers yeast in a supermarket... I found that Tractor Supply does carry brewers yeast tablets, if you have one of those nearby... think it was in the dog stuff area though... a vitamin shop will have nutritional yeast, you can use that in a pinch... or you can get it off Amazon, AniMed brand has best value there...

No, it won't hurt them at all if that isn't it, but it's most likely the issue, they have higher niacin needs than chicks do...

Amiga is the best for advice!

 

[emziepixie]

You usually won't find brewers yeast in a supermarket... I found that Tractor Supply does carry brewers yeast tablets, if you have one of those nearby... think it was in the dog stuff area though... a vitamin shop will have nutritional yeast, you can use that in a pinch... or you can get it off Amazon, AniMed brand has best value there...

No, it won't hurt them at all if that isn't it, but it's most likely the issue, they have higher niacin needs than chicks do...

Amiga is the best for advice!

Okay thanks, I will have a look around, thanks for your advice

 

[Orca5094]

My ducklings are now 3 and a half weeks old, and today I saw one of the 5 have what I think was a seizure. He was spasming and turned his head right back on himself, then sat there for a bit before getting up again. I've never seen this before and I'm really unsure of what to do or if its some sort of disease? and if it is should I separate him from the other ducklings as I don't wish for it to hurt all of them. I really don't want to have to lose one, but if she's suffering then I'll have to do something about it? I'd really appreciate any input as I truly have no idea whats happening to her. Thanks

Did this happen next to a water bowl by any chance? It wasn't the thing they do when they want to bathe but can't get into the water, was it? They do like a mock "bath" next to a water dish, it can look pretty strange. They lay down and flap their wings, fluff out their feathers, and rub their head on their backs as if they were in the water. Just throwing that out there as someone else had a concern awhile back and that was all the behavior was.

 

[emziepixie]

Did this happen next to a water bowl by any chance? It wasn't the thing they do when they want to bathe but can't get into the water, was it? They do like a mock "bath" next to a water dish, it can look pretty strange. They lay down and flap their wings, fluff out their feathers, and rub their head on their backs as if they were in the water. Just throwing that out there as someone else had a concern awhile back and that was all the behavior was.

No I am fairly sure it was a seizure and it didn't happen by the water bowl, he was on his side but couldn't get up flapping his legs and wing, then he started pulling his head backwards so it was upside down on his back (looked strange and almost as if he shouldn't bend that way?!)
I've given him some crushed up vitamin tablet mixed with his food but he wasn't too hungry when I offered him, will try again later, thanks for your help though

 

[Orca5094]

No I am fairly sure it was a seizure and it didn't happen by the water bowl, he was on his side but couldn't get up flapping his legs and wing, then he started pulling his head backwards so it was upside down on his back (looked strange and almost as if he shouldn't bend that way?!)
I've given him some crushed up vitamin tablet mixed with his food but he wasn't too hungry when I offered him, will try again later, thanks for your help though

Ok, darn. Was hoping it was something simple and not so serious. Good job with the vitamins, hopefully those will help! They really can make a difference sometimes when there are neurological signs starting to show. Good luck with your little one, and keep us updated!