Help, please!

[Anxshiyn]

Hello,

I'm new to this raising ducks thing. My father found two abandon ducklings at his work last week and yesterday the youngest little duckling past away; and we buried her. Now Trouble, the other duckling has fallen ill. he started to have constant seizures last night. And he even tried flipping over on his back. Luckily I wrapped him in a small hand towel so he won't do. I was able to Hand feed him water and a little bit of peas, but other than that he wasn't eating, and he was perfectly fine in the morning. I don't know what to do anymore. I don't really have duck feed so I feed him veggies and some sugar water. It was the best I can do for him, and now he's clinging onto his life with seizures. Now it's the morning but he's still clinging on. He's a fighter but I don't think he last long. Please help me. I don't want to lose another duckling.

 

[chooks4life]

Hello and

You need duck feed. Something that is formulated for baby ducks specifically. You cannot expect any animals, especially not baby ones, to survive on a diet that is insufficient.

You could cobble something together if you had the know-how but your best bet is to get them proper food to start with.

About the seizures: they could be genetic, they could be due to injury or disease, or they could be due to exposure to something toxic, but whatever the cause the ducklings won't live without a good diet.

The long term prognosis for ducklings having seizures isn't good, obviously, I'm sorry. A vet may be able to help but they would also tell you they need proper duck food. This could be a balanced diet you put together yourself or something you buy prepackaged --- but they do need it.

Best wishes.

 

[Anxshiyn]

Well, you don't exactly have duck feed in east Los Angeles. But if you can tell me what I can feed him as an alternative that would be awesome. He's doing better, not so much of seizure but he's weak. I'm giving him water and he's drinking it fine.

 

[cherok]

Well, you don't exactly have duck feed in east Los Angeles.

hope you can help the little guy... but here is a search of LA supplies, etc... i'd try one of these... good luck!

http://www.yellowpages.com/los-angeles-ca/poultry-equipment-supplies

 

[Anxshiyn]

hope you can help the little guy...  but here is a search of LA supplies, etc...  i'd try one of these...  good luck!

http://www.yellowpages.com/los-angeles-ca/poultry-equipment-supplies

It's a bit far and I don't exactly drive. I think he got himself sick by eating his own poop. The vet that's near me where I live doesn't specialize in aviary. Any suggestion would be great.

 

[Anxshiyn]

It's a bit far and I don't exactly drive. But I think what made him sick was that he eat his own poop a few times. But I'm still not sure about it. He ate plenty of mash carrots and peas every three hours till bed time. Any suggestion would be great for helping trouble.

 

[happyhens1972]

You must be able to buy duck food online and get it delivered in a couple of days, this duckling WILL die if it doesn't get proper nutrition so you need to do what is right for the little one or cull it humanely.

In the mean time, can you get to a reptile stockist or garden supplies for either live or dead mealworms? Scrambled eggs are good and the mashed carrots and peas are good too. A duckling in the wild would be living off plant matter and insects so you need to emulate this until the feed arrives.

 

[Anxshiyn]

The closest thing I have to worms is fish food. Bloodworms to be exact. There's a little store in the corner that has chickens but I'm not sure if it has duck feed. I'll try my best to get everything though.

 

[happyhens1972]

No, bloodworms are not a good idea, they can infest the crop. The mealworms can be the dried type you buy for garden birds.

Chicken food would be better than nothing, if they have that.

 

[Anxshiyn]

Okay so no blood worms. I'm a horrible foster mother.... @-@