Malnourished ducks won't gain weight

[duckgreek]

Hello,

I rescued several malnourished ducks from an overpopulated park about two months ago, where you could absolutely feel a sharp keel on the breast of every individual - many die there on a yearly basis. Since then, I have been giving them unlimited access to high protein crumble feed (27%), supplemented by large amounts of corn, millet, etc. and they have not gained any weight whatsoever since acquiring them. It's bizarre. They also just don't seem to eat a whole lot in general - I've heard that an adult duck is supposed to eat 4-6 oz of feed a day and these seem to be eating about half that. They have constant access to fresh water. What could be going on?

Thanks,
Greg

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hello,

I rescued several malnourished ducks from an overpopulated park about two months ago, where you could absolutely feel a sharp keel on the breast of every individual - many die there on a yearly basis. Since then, I have been giving them unlimited access to high protein crumble feed, supplemented by large amounts of corn, millet, etc. and they have not gained any weight whatsoever since acquiring them. It's bizarre. They also just don't seem to eat a whole lot in general - I've heard that an adult duck is supposed to eat 4-6 oz of feed a day and these seem to be eating about half that. They have constant access to fresh water. What could be going on?

Thanks,
Greg

Parasites? Have you wormed them yet?

 

[nuthatched]

supplemented by large amounts of corn, millet, etc

Please remove this from their feed, it's not good for them at all and will keep them from putting on healthy weight, only fat.
What type of duck are they? Have you wormed them?

 

[duckgreek]

No I haven't! I didn't even consider that. What would you recommend as a good dewormer?

Regarding the corn, I can remove it, but they are not putting on any fat either! Nothing. I also fed them only straight high protein food for a month and a half before incoporating any corn into the diet. That was just a recent attempt to try something different to see if it helped. Crumble they have constant access to is 27% protein.

They are mixed breeds. All mallard breeds. Pekins and Rouen's primarily.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

What percent protein is their feed?
I agree with the other comments. Remove all other foods besides the feed and they need wormed. A lot of people use SafeGuard Goat Dewormer that you can get at tractor supply.

 

[nuthatched]

No I haven't! I didn't even consider that. What would you recommend as a good dewormer?

Regarding the corn, I can remove it, but they are not putting on any fat either! Nothing. Crumble they have constant access to is 27% protein.

Fat is stored internally in birds, around the organs, though ducks usually have a good amount under their rumps and on their keels to help them float.

 

[Aunt Angus]

No I haven't! I didn't even consider that. What would you recommend as a good dewormer?

Regarding the corn, I can remove it, but they are not putting on any fat either! Nothing. I also fed them only straight high protein food for a month and a half before incoporating any corn into the diet. That was just a recent attempt to try something different to see if it helped. Crumble they have constant access to is 27% protein.

Safeguard is a good one. I use the horse paste for all of my animals.

For ducks, I believe it's 0.23 mL per lb daily for 5 days in a row.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Valbazen might actually be better. Let me look up the dosage. Hang on a min.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Here's info about Valbazen:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...s-for-poultry-waterfowl-and-game-birds.75490/

 

[duckgreek]

Many thanks everyone this is very helpful! Nuthatched, I am very familiar with duck anatomy/fat storage etc. - I've processed many ducks for food (mostly wild, I do a lot of hunting) so I know what you mean. A healthy duck will have QUITE a bit more fat than a comparable chicken, usually at least a little around the entire body as well as internally. These birds are very, very lean. They seem to be sort of alright now on muscle mass but there is still no fat buildup. Maybe it just takes a really, really long time to come back from that state of starvation? Anyone else have similar experiences bringing back starving birds?

It sounds like deworming may be the trick!

HollowofWisps, as I said, their feed is 27% protein.