HELP! Duckling not growing!

[Purple_grape84]

My 8 Khaki Campbel ducks are 4weeks old. The largest are just starting to get feathers and are a large handful to pick up.

I'm worried about the smallest duckling, he's about a 1/4 size of the others. He eats and drinks and swims. Not extra noisy, doesn't isolate himself in the corner or anything else. He does seem to have a swollen belly and I have seem him on his back a couple times. And was kind of standing hunched up.

I put the heat light back in when I saw the hunched stance a couple days ago. They are in my bsmt and didn't seem to be using the heat at 2wks so when I moved them into the bigger brooder I didn't bother putting it back in.

I'm feeding 24% chick starter because they are brooding with same age keets, I'm going to switch to 21% this week. I'm supplementing with chicken vitamins that has niacin in it. I know there is enough niacin because I started adding it when the ducklings were 1wk old and a couple bigger ones were having trouble standing. Next day they were fine and problem hasn't repeated. I'm adding a light sprinkle to their evening water change 1 gallon size.

In the pictures he is the smallest one. He's even smaller than the keets now. Yes there is one chick in there too if you can spot her.

There is a 2nd smallish one, but not as small, and just seems stronger.

 

[chickens really]

Possible Dwarfism..I've had that 3 times..

 

[AquaDuck]

I had a case like yours with a duckling not growing, no idea if it can help you though. At 3 weeks she was the exact size of the newly hatched ducklings I got. In her case (her name's Bob), she wasn't eating anything except the food I sprinkled in their bath water. She was literally standing in food, but only ate while swimming. Solution was to set out a low dish with water and feed, so she could dabble the food.

 

[Purple_grape84]

Thank you @chickens really and @the cluck juggler. I will try putting the water and food closer together, they are close now, the ducks are even splashing the water into now.

I guess my big concern is the falling on his back and seemingly swollen belly. I will have to isolate and see if he is pooping.

 

[chickens really]

Thank you @chickens really and @the cluck juggler. I will try putting the water and food closer together, they are close now, the ducks are even splashing the water into now.

I guess my big concern is the falling on his back and seemingly swollen belly. I will have to isolate and see if he is pooping.

Best wishes...

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’d like to mention getting liquid b complex and start giving this little one 1 ml daily over a treat like peas or mealworms it’s amazing what liquid b complex can do for one. Can’t hurt to try it and we have seen some awesome results here from using it TSC has the best one it’s in the cattle dept and says injectable but peel off the foil and use a 1 ml dropper to get out the dose. If it’s a niacin def within a week you should see a significant improvement. @Purple_grape84

 

[HuffleClaw]

Poor thing.

 

[Purple_grape84]

Thank you for the suggestion @Miss Lydia . I thought the vitamin powder would be enough, but won't hurt to try a more concentrated solution. Thanks @HuffleClaw it's sad cause he looks so cute still, but not right. Also he hasn't started growing feathers like the others.

 

[Jpat]

Possible Dwarfism..I've had that 3 times..

Did you grow out of it each time?

 

[Purple_grape84]

Here are some pictures of his belly. It seems very round. Doesn't feel hard but full. @Miss Lydia