Is it normal for my 18 day old indian runner Duckling to sit down all the time?

[Cocelean]

I have an 18 day old duckling that sits all the time - she sleeps through the night, is super quiet all day for the most part, and she only walks a couple of steps before she sits down. She only gets up occasionally to eat and drink and then sits again, she doesn't run around at all. I give her two table spoons of nutritional yeast flakes with a out a cup of her food that lasts her the entire day and a half, and at the moment I'm mixing chick starter crumbs with a bit of duck grower food to slowly transition her, at which point I'm hoping to introduce chick grit to her and have her eat peas at 3 weeks.

 

[CoriM]

No, that doesn't sound normal at all. Do you have other ducklings with her? They need company for sure or she will be way too lonely! It could be a niacin deficiency, which can be corrected by giving her liquid vitamin B complex - as soon as possible in order to reverse any damage. Also making sure she has a quality duck food because chicken food doesn't have the niacin needed for ducklings.

 

[Cocelean]

No, that doesn't sound normal at all. Do you have other ducklings with her? They need company for sure or she will be way too lonely! It could be a niacin deficiency, which can be corrected by giving her liquid vitamin B complex - as soon as possible in order to reverse any damage. Also making sure she has a quality duck food because chicken food doesn't have the niacin needed for ducklings.

She was unfortunately the only one that hatched out - and I looked around for other ducklings but they were about three weeks older than her so it didnt work out. I've been with her every day however since I'm off uni for holidays and she comes with me when I go for work experience in a mini brooder so she hasn't been left alone - theres always been someone at home to keep her company aside from that.

For her feed, because we can't get duck-specific starter crumbs here, I give her chick crumbs with nutritional yeast. The grower food is for ducks and geese though. Should I increase how much yeast I give her? And how long do I keep it at that?

Is this ok for ducklings? How much and how long should I give her vitamin B for? And should I put this into her water? She drinks from a large container with a little cut out to dunk her head in.

 

[CoriM]

Do you have older birds for her to eventually join with? If not, maybe it would be good to look around for a future home for her so she doesn't rely solely on you. It might be part of the reason she's not doing much right now - ducks are such social/flock animals. Some hatcheries are still able to ship ducklings, but I think it depends on where you live - it might be too cold to ship in a lot of places. Here is the liquid vitamin B complex I have used. You can put it over treats. When I had a duckling who had splay leg I added it a little to her food, and drinking water as well. I don't know much about nutritional yeast. I added brewer's yeast especially for animals to my duckling's food, but one of my pekins still developed a niacin deficiency. Does your baby like to swim in a luke-warm tub? That's good exercise and something fun to do at this stage. Just for 15 minutes or so at a time, then make sure she gets back to a warm brooder. I hope you can find a couple friends for her, as long term that's something she'll really need for her happiness and your sanity!

 

[Cocelean]

Do you have older birds for her to eventually join with? If not, maybe it would be good to look around for a future home for her so she doesn't rely solely on you. It might be part of the reason she's not doing much right now - ducks are such social/flock animals. Some hatcheries are still able to ship ducklings, but I think it depends on where you live - it might be too cold to ship in a lot of places. Here is the liquid vitamin B complex I have used. You can put it over treats. When I had a duckling who had splay leg I added it a little to her food, and drinking water as well. I don't know much about nutritional yeast. I added brewer's yeast especially for animals to my duckling's food, but one of my pekins still developed a niacin deficiency. Does your baby like to swim in a luke-warm tub? That's good exercise and something fun to do at this stage. Just for 15 minutes or so at a time, then make sure she gets back to a warm brooder. I hope you can find a couple friends for her, as long term that's something she'll really need for her happiness and your sanity!

I'm actually planning to give her to someone I know - they've got lots of ducks including a couple that also think they're humans when shes around 6 weeks since its pretty cold right now. I'm going to miss her but it's for the best! (Shes the first duck - or animal at that, that ive hatched)

I do put her in a tub of warm water up to her lower bottom every 2 days, but she doesn't swim, so I don't keep her there longer than about 3-5 minutes - she might not be swimming because either the waters too low or the tub is too small - I'm considering moving her into the bath tub now so she has more room to swim since she tries diving head first into the small tub sometimes when I put her in there.

I dont think we have durvet here - I tried looking on amazon and there isn't any, and online it'll take 16-21 days to get here so its not really an option. I tried looking for vitamin B complex specifically for animals as well, but there isn't any either - do you have any other suggestions by any chance? I'm based in the uk - that might also be the reason why I wasnt able to find any way to have ducklings shipped over since we probably dont have anything of sorts.

 

[Quatie]

If the duckling is not underweight, it could be nothing. I have had a couple ducklings that moved very little. One would pig out and then nod off with a food coma. Another one was a bit small and struggled when she was young, so she tired a bit easier. Once she went outside and had to keep up with everyone else, she perked up.

If it is just loneliness, the duck will probably perk up once it is starting to get integrated. Will the duck follow you around if it was running around on the ground?

 

[Cocelean]

If the duckling is not underweight, it could be nothing. I have had a couple ducklings that moved very little. One would pig out and then nod off with a food coma. Another one was a bit small and struggled when she was young, so she tired a bit easier. Once she went outside and had to keep up with everyone else, she perked up.

If it is just loneliness, the duck will probably perk up once it is starting to get integrated. Will the duck follow you around if it was running around on the ground?

Yep, she runs after me and then for a split second she'll do what I call a naruto run lol but she can't keep that up and goes back to running normally, and as soon as shes next to my feet, she'll plop down. She has moments where I think shes too tired to move because she doesn't follow when I walk away from her until I'm out of sight at which point she starts screaming. She just plops down all the time, and I noticed when she runs shes a little side on and kind of hops a bit like a crow in a sense? I'll try getting a recording of it because it's a bit of an odd run.

 

[Quatie]

Hmm. It sounds a lot like the second one I mentioned. She would run for a short bit then tire out and plop down. I could not get her to exercise, even with 5 brooder mates. Released her into the full flock, and she strengthened rather quickly. But there could be something going on with her legs. Hopeful you can get a recording, that would help.

 

[CoriM]

Didn't know you were in the UK. If it were me I would go ahead and try that vitamin B you have - it's probably the same thing. It sounds like you've got a good plan for her. I think she's old enough to have water deep enough for swimming at this age. Also, she will run after you desperately because she doesn't want to be left alone, but maybe she's actually doing too much exercise and that's why she's not moving much in the brooder? Just a thought. Best of luck with your little one.