Miniature Duck?

[Rooka_2]

Hi! This is my duckling, Poppy. Next to her much bigger hatch mate, Honey. These ducklings were born almost 4 weeks ago. They were both born within 24 hours of each other and as you can see Poppy is still the size as a 1 week old chick. She really wasn't thriving when she hatched and I thought she might not make it, but here we are 4 weeks in and she has a will to survive. She eats and drinks as normal but she is incredibly small. I'm a city girl, I hatch chick's with my home daycare once a year for fun. The other ducklings are off to my aunts farm tomorrow but im debating keeping Poppy as a pet, she is so so so loved by all, she loves to be held and comes when the kids call her name.
My question is, why is she still this small? Will she catch up to her hatch mates or will she always be small? If I keep her, should I keep a friend for her or can she be left solo? Any experience with ducklings that aren't growing? She seems good but she's soooo small.

 

[fatty and friends]

keep her and a friend if possible! she most likely is sick, since even if she was a call duckling (smallest breed) she should’ve been bigger than that by now

what are you feeding them?

 

[Rooka_2]

keep her and a friend if possible! she most likely is sick, since even if she was a call duckling (smallest breed) she should’ve been bigger than that by now

what are you feeding them?

I've been feeding them chick starter and some fruit here and there.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They need to have chick grit if feeding anything other than their starter. Just put out a small bowl close to their feed. Also if you haven't they need niacin chick starter hasn't the amount ducklings need for strong legs.
Here is info
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nutritional-yeast-vs-brewers-yeast.1393856/

 

[Stellasmomma]

They need to have chick grit if feeding anything other than their starter. Just put out a small bowl close to their feed. Also if you haven't they need niacin chick starter hasn't the amount ducklings need for strong legs.
Here is info
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nutritional-yeast-vs-brewers-yeast.1393856/

Hi! This is my duckling, Poppy. Next to her much bigger hatch mate, Honey. These ducklings were born almost 4 weeks ago. They were both born within 24 hours of each other and as you can see Poppy is still the size as a 1 week old chick. She really wasn't thriving when she hatched and I thought she might not make it, but here we are 4 weeks in and she has a will to survive. She eats and drinks as normal but she is incredibly small. I'm a city girl, I hatch chick's with my home daycare once a year for fun. The other ducklings are off to my aunts farm tomorrow but im debating keeping Poppy as a pet, she is so so so loved by all, she loves to be held and comes when the kids call her name.
My question is, why is she still this small? Will she catch up to her hatch mates or will she always be small? If I keep her, should I keep a friend for her or can she be left solo? Any experience with ducklings that aren't growing? She seems good but she's soooo small.

Do you have a tractor supply anywhere near you? they carry a duck starter maybe another feed store in the area would have one as well? I mix a bit of chick grit in with my ducklings food and that seems to have worked well. Poopy is awfully cute! please keep us updated on how things are going

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Rooka_2 Any update on Poppy?

 

[Stellasmomma]

@Rooka_2 Any update on Poppy?

I was also wondering

 

[RDchicken99]

I've been feeding them chick starter and some fruit here and there.

Ducks need niacin to develop properly. You can add nutritional or brewers yeast to their diet, or get a duckling starter that contains niacin.