I have a 2.5 day old Pekin duckling. It’s my first duck He hatched really well-needed no assistance. He was a late Hatcher. I noticed that he couldn’t walk right. He seemed splayed. So I found information on here about making a hobble so I did the band-aid method-the hobble is coming off this evening. But now I’m worried because it doesn’t seem that he puts weight into his toes, like he doesn’t want to bend at the ankle. I can bend them for him with no resistance from him. When I assist him with walking, it’s like he’s standing on his tippy toes. He also has been having really dry eyes. Unless I put some artificial tears in them, they are closed. Help!!! I am feeding him MannaPro Duck Starter Grower, non-medicated, but he’s not eating much. He loves to drink water, but I have to assist him to drink and eat since he can’t balance on his own. Im not sure how to upload a video of him walking, but i have included some pictures. Thank you!
Sometimes they fail to thrive. Try what you can. I have had to put down a couple myself with issues. Best of luck. It might just need a few days to find its feet.
Have you been giving any kind of niacin? Ducklings really need niacin to keep there legs strong. You said you where giving him duck starter so there should be enough niacin. I would really just suggest giving extra niacin if it was on chick starter so they could be getting the right amount. But if he is not eating the duck food...he is not getting the niacin in his food. I would find one of his favorite treats and put some liquid B-complex on it. Liquid B-complex is a form of niacin and has been working miracles on ducklings lately...it is worth a try...even if it does not work. Are you planning on giving it duck food even when it gets older? If so you will not need to worry about giving him any niacin, but if you are going to change food I would give him Brewers yeast(another form of niacin but there is not as much niacin in the brewers yeast mix). That is just for in the future...so don't worry about it now..just pointing that out for when it comes! My ducks are almost 1 year old and I will give them Brewers yeast sometimes just to make sure there legs are still strong, but it is really only needed when they are ducklings. I used brewers yeast when mine where ducklings, but your ducks conditions is worse..so I would go with liquid B-complex. Also...see if he will eat smashed up peas(make sure they are so so small) they carry niacin so it will be great for him! @Miss Lydia can tell you the amount of liquid B- complex to give him!
B complex is the best when one is already showing troubles. Liquid over a small amount of feed or smashed peas if the little one likes them. TSC has a cattle B complex that is used a lot on BYC with great results. 1 ml daily or you can buy human liquid that will be 3ml daily since it's less concentrated. I'd also put a tiny bit of ointment around the eyes to keep them from sealing shut you can use Neosporin or triple antibiotic or get Terramycin eye ointment also Veterycin makes an eye ointment.