Muscovy chick falls over

[sistercrystal]

I bought Muscovy eggs online and hatched one of 13. I’m not sure if this was an incubator fail. My incubator dropped temperature (to about toward the end of incubating (it’s actually a 30 year old incubator!)

The one duckling hatched (with a little help as it was two days late and 30 hours from pip), but from day one couldn’t stand. I figured it was just worn out from such a trying hatching.

A couple days later, it still couldn’t stand. I made sure it’s been eating and drinking (fed it chick starter). I added niacin on day 2 or 3 (broke open a capsule and sprinkled into water and food). I did that for a couple days. I’ve been hand feeding it because it cannot move around to get its own food.

Then I picked up some duck starter that has niacin and a vitamin/electrolytes supplement that I add to the water. It’s been on this for about two weeks.

About two weeks and a bit later, it’s very healthy apart from not being able to balance. I still hand feed it twice daily. I keep hoping it will get better, but I’m not sure what to do at this point.

It doesn’t seem to have any injuries. Any ideas?

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

I have had a similar experience this year - Wonky had a very difficult hatch and was also shrink wrapped but only on one side and it was absolutely stuck solid on their eye.

We finally got them out and not only were they physically a bit one sided but also had problems with standing and balance.

They are still in the brooder and I think we are on week 5 now - we made sure they were always warm, dry, eating and drinking. We had wonky on duck lucozade from the off (water, b complex, ace vits, selenium, acv and honey) and they are only just coming off it now. They are on still on chick starter with BY added.

I thought Wonky would always be special needs but four weeks + of being on this regime and they seem to have caught up in development terms. I think the only thing we havent seen are zoomies, in or out of the water but they can balance enough to groom and whatnot. Also not the most enthusiastic of swimmers but thats ok !

Tbh, i'm kind of amazed they made it this far - we've lost so many this year part of me was just waiting for it happen.

But Wonky is clearly a fighter !

Sorry !To answer your question - keep at it and give them a small supervised swim if they havent already had one. Seems to get the circulation and muscles going in a balanced way without being weight bearing.

Have you got a pic ?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any way you can post a video so we can see how he is moving around

 

[sistercrystal]

I will post something next week. I’m on vacation right now and my son is doing a great job taking care of it. I’ll definitely try the swim too and see if that helps it strengthen up. Thank you!

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Pls make sure the swim is short (a few mins) in warm water (good for the muscles !) And supervised ! The little one will need towelling off after as well because they won't have their oil yet.

Enjoy your hols !