My little mallard duck is dying....Please help i feel helpless:(

[fowlmama]

I'm on my iPad. It's hard to tell what their clogged with, her LIL nostrils are so tiny. It's darker in color I do know that. I'm very concerned about her not being able to deficate....she tries but like I said....nothing or very little comes out....I will get the vitamin you recommended first thing in the morning! She does eat and drink, just very little and I'm worried she isn't
T swallowing the crumbles? I know she's swallowing the sugar water....she tilts her head back. Another observation.......she stands ALOT almost as if its uncomfortable to lie down. Any suggestions on what might be going on?
Thank you so much for your help!
Stacey

 

[minihorse927]

Sorry I'm so far behind now,i just broke my ankle and had to go to the hospital. It's possible she's constipated. Get her to drink some mineral oil. If she's blocked up it could help move things along. On iPad i believe when you go to forums and them click on ducks and it pulls up all the threads, on the to left hand side it says new topic. Click that.should allow you to post a new topic

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Whoa... I do not think I have ever heard the mineral oil or sugar water advice before, nor would I jump to any conclusion that what's going on is constipation and needs to be treated that way. I also would not suspect wry neck in a healthy wild duckling either. I'm thinking injury or failure to thrive ("giving up") -or- a combination of the two.

What happened to this duckling's mother? Even if you have equipment, this duckling's survival chances would be better with its mother. They won't do well alone. And that goes for I think any duckling, not having gone thru trauma like getting stuck in a pool filter and getting separated from its flock. I'm sorry if this reads harsh to you, I think you want to help, but I think you should try to keep it warm and comfortable, with as little stress as possible, offer food and water... If there is no possible way for you to return it to its mother. That is very sad. I suppose you might search for "caring for a duckling" and get some info there too, but aside from vitamins, I'd avoid any supplements to food and water.

 

[minihorse927]

There Are two different peope with two different problems here. The first one sounds like It has become chilled. The heat lamp is helping it out. The second on I am trying to go through possibilities and things that have worked here on helping to alleviate these kinds of problems. I'm just one person with one opinion and only have my experiences to work off of and things I have read and seen people try. I'm not telling the poster they have to
Do it but if they suspect constipation/blockage than mineral oil is a non toxic and the worst it causes is diarrhea. It will help move blockages through and has worked here in the past when I had a 4week old duckling swallow something and it became lodged. It helps with other livestock also but has to be used at the discretion that in a case where surgery comes into play than the mineral oil can cause problems in surgery. If this was a dangerous thing I would have never mentioned it. I've heard of the sugar water before but I never have done it myself. It helps to build some energy in them and is not harmful short term. The two posters did the sugar water on their own without any advice from anyone here. I also said it COULD be constipated, never said that is definitely what is wrong. Please read the whole thread before degrading a poster as we all have different experiences and different advice. If you read the whole thing I told the first poster it is most likely not wry neck but seems the duckling could have gotten chilled with no heat lamp the first few days. I've had chilled ducklings and chicks and they react in the way that the first posters did. Lethargic, unwilling to eat or drink much, sleeping all the time, trouble breathing. 80% of the time a chilled chick can be saved with a heat lamp and poly vi sol, but it depends on how long it's been chilled. The original posters can do as they wish, I'm out of this thread. Good luck.

 

[fowlmama]

Mini horse, I completely appreciate all your advice and help! I'm sorry you broke your ankle! How awful! I want to say I'm thankful for ALL advice!
This duckling was found abandoned by its mother (one of my own) in our backyard. It's a week old. It had been doing well the first 6 days however I had noticed that its mom was not attentive and had it following her all over the backyard. On tues my daughter found the duckling alone on its back with its legs out in front of it, extremely weak, barely able to peep, unable to walk or stand. We brought it in gave it sugar water, heat lamp and baby duck food. There is NO WAY I would put this baby out with its mother! That would mean SURE death! Anyway you can read previous threads for other details. She is better, but not THRIVING.....I'm doing as much as I can but will do whatever else I can. Is it possible to have a duckling do well for 6 days and then be a failure to thrive?

I feel like she'd eat better if her nostrils weren't clogged. I've tried wiping w warm water to no avail..

Food, water, heat lamp, vit's that's what I'm doin any other suggestions?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mini horse, I completely appreciate all your advice and help! I'm sorry you broke your ankle! How awful! I want to say I'm thankful for ALL advice!
This duckling was found abandoned by its mother (one of my own) in our backyard. It's a week old. It had been doing well the first 6 days however I had noticed that its mom was not attentive and had it following her all over the backyard. On tues my daughter found the duckling alone on its back with its legs out in front of it, extremely weak, barely able to peep, unable to walk or stand. We brought it in gave it sugar water, heat lamp and baby duck food. There is NO WAY I would put this baby out with its mother! That would mean SURE death! Anyway you can read previous threads for other details. She is better, but not THRIVING.....I'm doing as much as I can but will do whatever else I can. Is it possible to have a duckling do well for 6 days and then be a failure to thrive?

I feel like she'd eat better if her nostrils weren't clogged. I've tried wiping w warm water to no avail..

Food, water, heat lamp, vit's that's what I'm doin any other suggestions?

If you give her a bowl with warm water will she dunk her head in it to clean her nares out? Just make sure not to leave it in with her since she could climb in and get too wet and chill. or does it look like the nares could possibly not have been open at hatch? birth defect maybe?

 

[fowlmama]

They were open, definitely! She was doing great the first 6 days. I'm wondering if the sugar water isn't the problem? I'll try the LIL bowl w warm water! Great idea! She sleeps constantly it seems.....I wake her ever so often to remind her to eat and drink, which she will then right back to sleep. She can't stay awake long at all. I'm so used to having groups of babies and their so busy then sleep. Maybe I'm hyper-focused on this LIL lady and she's actually sleeping normal amounts? Ugh.....it's consumed the last two days, worrying and stressing about her.
Miss Lydia what are your thoughts on the poly vi sol vitamin added to her drinking water? Seems like a good idea to me.
Another interesting fact......out of all her mamas eggs she was the only one that hatched. All the rest were bad........she also has LIL feathers on both the outter sides of her legs. I've never seen that before either......

 

[Miss Lydia]

They were open, definitely! She was doing great the first 6 days. I'm wondering if the sugar water isn't the problem? I'll try the LIL bowl w warm water! Great idea! She sleeps constantly it seems.....I wake her ever so often to remind her to eat and drink, which she will then right back to sleep. She can't stay awake long at all. I'm so used to having groups of babies and their so busy then sleep. Maybe I'm hyper-focused on this LIL lady and she's actually sleeping normal amounts? Ugh.....it's consumed the last two days, worrying and stressing about her.
Miss Lydia what are your thoughts on the poly vi sol vitamin added to her drinking water? Seems like a good idea to me.
Another interesting fact......out of all her mamas eggs she was the only one that hatched. All the rest were bad........she also has LIL feathers on both the outter sides of her legs. I've never seen that before either......

Not sure about the feathers, but sounds like something may have been going on with this particular hatch, sounds amazing she made it. Yes if you have the poly vi sol; w/o iron then put some into her water. do you moisten her feed at all? sometimes that will entice them to eat. I can understand how stressful it can be when you have only one your focusing on. Have you given it a stuffed animal to cuddle with and if you have a mirror that is safe you might put it in with her if she sees another duckling[her] it may get her moving a little more. Most hatcheries rec. sugar water only when birds first arrive but don't rec that it be continued it can cause low blood sugar. I sure hope you see a change for the good soon.

also too high temps in brooder can cause them to be lethargic and sleep a lot. at 6-8 days old temps should be around 80* -82* have you tried opening her nares? maybe a sterile tweezers and hold her gently in a soft towel and try to pick what ever it is out? you know on a ducks nares it's just open holes so I really don't think you could hurt her.

 

[fowlmama]

Ok sugar water is OUT reg water is in! I have one of those small plastic waterers would you happen to know a dosage for the poly vit? Yes she does have a stuffed animal, I gave her a mirror and yes I have been moistening her food which she REALLY shows interest in!
I will work on her nares. Was WAY too scared to poke anything in there, yes I do know they are just holes but dang she's sooo tiny still. I'll give it a try tho. She's definitely stronger, I'm praying the vitamins get her LIL butt around the corner! We've been calling her Beau, or lil peep, short for LIL Bo peep. So of course I'm attached. All my ducks and geese are my children and I treat them as such, would break my heart to loose any one of them. I know if this one doesn't make it then its Gods will, but in the meantime I'm guna do everything I can to save her.
Miss Lydia THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for your help, concern and time. You've been a life-saver and have greatly put my mind at ease!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok sugar water is OUT reg water is in! I have one of those small plastic waterers would you happen to know a dosage for the poly vit? Yes she does have a stuffed animal, I gave her a mirror and yes I have been moistening her food which she REALLY shows interest in!
I will work on her nares. Was WAY too scared to poke anything in there, yes I do know they are just holes but dang she's sooo tiny still. I'll give it a try tho. She's definitely stronger, I'm praying the vitamins get her LIL butt around the corner! We've been calling her Beau, or lil peep, short for LIL Bo peep. So of course I'm attached. All my ducks and geese are my children and I treat them as such, would break my heart to loose any one of them. I know if this one doesn't make it then its Gods will, but in the meantime I'm guna do everything I can to save her.
Miss Lydia THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for your help, concern and time. You've been a life-saver and have greatly put my mind at ease!

I have no idea on dosage I've never used poly vi sol I use Nutri drench. but I'll look in the archives and see if I can find some info. I think if you go slow and I'm sure you will you should be able to get what ever is stuck there out. So happy to hear she is stronger Yay!! keep up with up dates .. Okay this has to do with wry neck but gives dosage for a small duckling 1 drop 3X a day directly into the bill right at the front, never try to put anything down the throat. I'm giving you the post just so you can see the dosage, the rest of the post has to do with a duckling that had wry neck.

• katharinad
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I don't think I have an answer for you, but you should be concerned every time you have some sort of discharge. It is best to see a vet for further diagnosis. In the meanwhile I would give poultry vitamins and minerals. Especially the vitamin b group, because it effects the coordination and muscle movement capabilities. Ducks in particular need a lot of vitamin B3 also known as Niacin. You can also get Polyvisol Vitamins for infants without iron and give one drop 3 times per day directly into the bill. Niacin can be found in the adult vitamin isle and is mixed 100mg per 1 gallon. Be very careful with the chlamydia psitacci it is very contagious, even to humans.