Is it deformed/crippled?

[AuroraSprings]

We have just had our first EVER duckling hatch. It pipped yesterday afternoon and just broke out of the egg this afternoon (is that normal to take so long?) It is trying to walk around in the incubator, but it's head and neck are turned backwards. Is it just turned that way because of how it was cramped into the shell or is it deformed? What causes this?

 

[fancbrd4me02]

It could be just kinked from hatching - I have read several posts where people said they had ducklings hatch like that. Give the duckling some time to "straighten out". Good luck!

 

[duckyfromoz]

Could be signs of a vitamin deficency. It can take a long time for them to hatch- even longer than 24 hours sometimes. This one may have been slow due to poor co-ordination or strength.

Give it a few more hours to gain som strength and fluff up after hatching if it still looking backwards it would be advisable to start it on some Vitamin B as soon as possible.

 

[AuroraSprings]

I have Vitamin-B Complex and Fortified B complex. Which is best for ducklings? Is it B-12 they are short in or Thiamine? How much do I give and how often? We have no bird vets that will see or even talk about ducks here, so I'm on my own.

 

[AuroraSprings]

Okay I'm reading thru my Merck Vet manual about vitamin deficiency in poultry and this is what I'm seeing:

Thiamine def= stargazing(looking up)
B6 def= jerking, convulsions, nervous movements
B12 def= lower hatchability, hemorraghic conditions, fatty liver

My little one has its neck bent to the left and under. It can't really move its neck to the right. That's how it came out of the egg, so I too thought it was just stiff from the egg. It's getting a little better now that its fluffed out some but I'm just a worried ducky mom.

Basically, I still have no idea what could be wrong, but I can put a few drop of B-complex in its mouth if anyone thinks it'll help.

 

[duckyfromoz]

It was Thiamine my duckling was diagnosed as being deficient in. Took her a few weeks to look normal as she was flipping over onto her back and had problems drinking too. She is fully grown now- but still looks a bit odd due to the muscle developement being delayed.

 

[AuroraSprings]

okay this morning its fluffed out but still laying down with it head on the floor. The side of the head lays on the floor of the incubator. How much B-complex do I give it?