HELP MY baby DUCKING IS WALKING ODDLY :(

[subhanalah]

Just out of curiosity, do you have any pictures of her? Maybe someone else can recognize what it looks like?

 

[KAZROB]

I Can try and get a pic, I am not sure how to up load on here, but I will try...She walks very low to the ground, I did see her stand up on her legs and flap her wings after a swim today, but basically she hobbles along low to the ground, like she is laying but she isn't she is walking? I am not sure if any of this observation on my part makes any sense, I am not great at explaining it! She is a Muscovy as well.....

 

[Amiga]

Generally, a sprinkling of brewer's yeast on top of food is what people say they use.

Niacin is also found in animal products, so if you have any canned sardines without salt and without oil, just fish in water, a teaspoon of that a few times a day may help.

Raising ducklings involves learning so much. That is what this forum is for. subhanalah has shared some good information.

We cannot rule out that she may have an infection. Are her feet or bill very warm - warmer than the others? Does her poop smell off? You may want to confine her so she doesn't wear herself out, but at the same time, isolation is very stressful for ducks of any age.

If you can dig up some worms, that may help the niacin status, also.

The recommendation for niacin capsules - not no-flush or timed release, just plain niacin - is 100 to 150 mg per gallon of water.

Do you have any B complex vitamins? I am not a vet, but if I had some of those I would use that in the water, using the B3 (niacin) level as a guide for how much to put in the water.

I cannot be at the computer all day, but will check in when I can.

 

[KAZROB]

Thanks, It is 130 am in the morning here in Australia, and I have been out to check my duckling, who is happily sleeping under mum with her dear lil head out for air...I am off to the Pharmacy today when it opens and I will try and get Niacin drops and I think I know where I can get Brewers yeast...just not sure which one would be best, but I think the brewers yeast will come in handy, as I have another duck who is sitting on a clutch of 9 eggs, which are due in a couple of weeks, so I need to ensure I do the right thing by this lot...I only have 2 girls and one drake and had an unsuccessful hatch by the one that is currently sitting, so when the other one decided to sit on 3 eggs, I was so happy to get 2 babies from her, and now I have this issue... I will try and find the brewers yeast dosage...Thanks once again, I am glad that I am having your input...

 

[Amiga]

Bless you for caring. We cannot know everything at first. As I wrote, I cannot be on all day today, but will check in when and as I can.

The niacin can be a big help. We cannot rule out an infection or injury, but we go with what is most common - and that is vitamin deficiency.

 

[KAZROB]

Hi There,

Thanks for your input......I have not smelt any smelly poop from the ducklings, well it never smells like 'freshner' when the mum and drake poo lol, and I did not notice if she had a warmer beak and warmer feet then her sister/brother, but I will check that first thing...thanks for that info.. Thanks for the brewers yeast dosage and niacin. As mentioned I managed to get a small sachet only of brewers yeast, so I sprinkled it on their food tonight and I added some oats and I am off to get starter/grower, get them off the chick starter...I did go into my grain store and he was the one that suggested I buy the chick starter, no other education given as far as changing their diet after a few weeks, but now I know...I just hope this is the issue and that I can resolve it.. Do you think brewers yeast or niacin is best to be used with each other or just one and what one is the best, or works quicker? Thanks to you and Subhanalah, along with Miss Lydia... I feel very supported and not in such despair.....

 

[Amiga]

Pretty much, it seems people either go with the brewer's yeast or the niacin capsules in water, not both.

I started slowly switching over from starter to grower at two weeks, did it by increasing the amount of grower, daily, over the course of about a week.

 

[KAZROB]

I have now read about the importance of the Vit B3, so which is best to use, or are they both as good as one another, this meaning Niacin or brewers yeast.....I am not sure which one to go for if indeed I can get either, I think I will have a choice, so wondering what to use...I just want to help her ASAP, she is just so flat and low to the ground when walking, and rests a bit along her travels, also the web of her feet are not out nice and flat either.....

 

[Amiga]

I like the niacin capsules because you know the dosage. See if you can get poultry vitamins as well.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

The other option that might be easy for you to find are the liquid baby vitamins without iron. Don't beat yourself up over it any more, just do what you can. It's really all you can do. I would not think that a diet of starter for 4 weeks is a horrible thing... I think with my first ducks, I fed them starter until they were totally feathered in. Hopefully you will add the Niacin and see results in a very short time, as in less than a week. Otherwise, do keep an eye on your duckling, she might just be "special." And some just are and that is okay.