My duckling won’t walk

[sbarrett]

Hi, I was hoping someone could give me some advice to care for my duckling. I got ten from tractor supply on April 26, everyone has been happy, healthy and having fun up until yesterday. Although a week or so ago, my fiancé said one looked like it had a seizure that lasted a few seconds, and I’m not entirely sure it’s the same duck.. anyways, only one won’t walk, and this started yesterday. I’ve been reading that all of his symptoms point to a niacin deficiency. I picked up poultry nutrition-drench and gave him some and put some in his water. I also picked up niacin from the vitamin aisle and I’m not too sure how to administer that to him. Any advice to help him is greatly appreciated, and any tips on ducks as well
Thank you!

 

[Pyxis]

and sorry about your duckling. What feed have you been feeding?

This does sound like it could be a niacin deficiency. Can you post a picture of the kind of niacin you bought?

 

[sbarrett]

I’ve been feeding them DuMOR chick starter. The people at tractor supply and another local feed store said chick starter would be just fine for them (we got them along with chicks.) We only got two last year and they did great on it.

and sorry about your duckling. What feed have you been feeding?

This does sound like it could be a niacin deficiency. Can you post a picture of the kind of niacin you bought?

 

[Pyxis]

View attachment 1404733

I’ve been feeding them DuMOR chick starter. The people at tractor supply and another local feed store said chick starter would be just fine for them (we got them along with chicks.) We only got two last year and they did great on it.

Chick starter is okay but lacks the niacin they need, so when you feed it you need to supplement niacin with it.

That niacin is unfortunately not the kind you want - you don't want niacin that says 'time release' or 'flush free' like it says on your bottle. I would return that and go back to Tractor Supply and buy something called Vitamin B complex.

This stuff:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/durvet-hi-level-vitamin-b-complex

 

[sbarrett]

Thanks! Should I still use the nutri-drench?

Chick starter is okay but lacks the niacin they need, so when you feed it you need to supplement niacin with it.

That niacin is unfortunately not the kind you want - you don't want niacin that says 'time release' or 'flush free' like it says on your bottle. I would return that and go back to Tractor Supply and buy something called Vitamin B complex.

This stuff:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/durvet-hi-level-vitamin-b-complex

T

 

[Pyxis]

Yes, I'd still use the Nutri Drench too. Any vitamins they don't need will just pass through and be excreted with their waste.

 

[sbarrett]

Okay, had to make sure. I look up that vitamin B complex, how to I administer it?

 

[Pyxis]

Okay, had to make sure. I look up that vitamin B complex, how to I administer it?

I'd give them 1 mL each per day. You can try putting it on a treat for them like mealworms or peas, etc, or you can administer it directly using a syringe.

 

[sbarrett]

Thank you so much for your help!! I really appreciate it!