Help my duck isn't walking right

[maddiexo]

Our neighbors found a wild baby duck in their chlorine pool about four days ago and gave him to me with his mom and siblings no where around. He's only about a week old and when I first got him he'd stand up and walk around and even run. But the more days go by the more he wants to be coddled and is having trouble walking and curling up his webbed little toes and doesn't have very good balance. If I put him in water though he swims just find. I'm wondering if that's why his mom left him or if he's just losing muscle strength from not walking around as much as he was with his mom. If anyone could help that would be great.

 

[adlynch]

Im certainly no expert and i'm not sure if this applies to wild ducks, but from my experience with domestic ducks they often have a Niacin deficiency. Poultry Nutri-Drench is a life saver. You can give it directly or dilute in water.

 

[Tlmcq]

He needs niacin added to food you can do this by adding nutritional yeast or Brewers yeast at 1 tablespoon per cup of feed. And make sure his water is deep enough to stick whole bill in so he can clean his nares(nostrils). They have to 100-150 mg of niacin and is not enough in chick starter or nutri-drench..but nutri-drench is great for getting them needed nutrients when stressed or sick