my ducks are laying on their back!!!

[olivetree]

i have found my pekin and khaki ducklings laying on their backs. they seem fine at first but then start to freak out and can’t get back up. i don’t know how long they are like that, until i find them there. someone please tell me what’s going on. i am worried

 

[Isaac 0]

Sometimes that will happen with ducklings, providing nice rough bedding so they can't slip helps, as well as making sure there isn't any indentations in the bedding where they might fall and not be able to get back up. What kind of bedding are you using?

 

[olivetree]

i use shaved wood chips. the area doesnt seem slippery. i also change the bedding quite often. i have my chickens and ducks together and i haven’t had a problem with the chicks slipping. i have mats under the bedding and it doesn’t seem slippery. they aren’t so little anymore. they are getting pretty big.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can you get a video of what your seeing? Put it on Vimeo or you tube then copy an paste here.

 

[olivetree]

i will try to take a video next time i see it. i don’t see them fall on their backs or haven’t yet, i just find them on their backs. so where i have my little babies is in an area where i can see them through a big window in my room. so it’s happened a few times where i look out the window and they are just chilling on their backs. it’s not till i go out there, that they are freaking out. mostly because i walk out there and they get excited. but the thing is, i don’t know how long they are like that or why they do that. they seem alright when i pick them up. i just don’t know if something is wrong with them.

 

[TriskeleFarm]

one of mine did this while I happened to be watching... they have a small hill in their enclosure, and the 5 of them were running down the hill, she tumbled and got stuck. I just flipped her back over and she ran off again

 

[Miss Lydia]

And sometimes it means something is going on. What are you feeding your ducklings @olivetree are you supplementing with vitamins or b complex?

 

[olivetree]

right now i am feeding them organic chick starter with putting in brewers yeast and apple cider vinegar. none of the stores had duck starter and they really only ate the chick starter anyways. i have 11 chicks and 3 ducks together. my pekin’s legs were bowed when i got her. they seem to be getting better everyday once i added brewers yeast. also my pekin doesn’t like to swim that much. she kinda freaks out in the water.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I bet if you went an got liquidB Complex you may see a much better response in your Pekin and if it’s a nutrient deficiency with your other duckling too the Liquid B complex is the best there is.

 

[olivetree]

do you know where i can find this? also do i add it in with their water or food? also can chickens have it?