Need help NOW

[Troll]

I have ten 6 week old ducks. Today i found one, neck arched backwards and legs stiff in the brooder. Helped him up and he trembled for a minute and walked off like nothing happened.

I just walked back a a DIFFERENT duck did the same thing.

What is going on?! They are eating and drinking (dumor starter/grower) . Poop is really liquid today. Had some salad greens yesterday.

I literally just culled four chicks an hour ago because of poor development. Please tell me i can fix this and nit have to cull my ducks.

 

[AmandaVirus]

I just read some reviews for the Dumor starter and it looks like someone else had problems with their ducklings as well, it sounds like it could be a niacin deficiency, which can cause neurological problems (like seizures, which seems like what your ducks are having) I would get some plain (not no-flush or timed-release, just plain niacin) niacin capsules or brewers yeast, which you can find at natural food stores. it's recommended to give them 100-150 mg of niacin per gallon of water, if using brewers yeast I believe it's about a tablespoon per duck on their feed everyday, I'm not positive, though as I use the capsules.

I have a mallard that was having seizures but hers wasn't a deficiency, I think it was some weird disorder, that she grew out of. But since you are having multiple ducks doing it, I'd say it's more likely to be a deficiency. I hope your ducklings better soon, it's very disturbing to watch them having these "episodes"!

 

[Troll]

Thank you so much!

 

[Troll]

New question- how long does it take to see results? Before i got it (five stores and three hours later), Ugli, Picard, and one unnamed duck had all seized. Ugli and nameless recovered in about two hours but Picard is still hunched up and lethergic this morning. I've mixed food in the niacin water and syringe fed him twice this mirning (3cc both times-he ended up eating about 4ccs total). He drinks on his own but is still wobbly and hunched up (kinda like my chickens when they feel poorly).

They have 150mg of niacin in a gallon of water-about half the gallon is split into their waterers. I added about a Tbs of brewers yeast to their food just as a boost (they love the stuff).

Now what? Hurry up and wait?

 

[Amiga]

Now we step back and breathe, and think.

Temperature in the brooder?

Have they had chick grit before salad greens? They need to be able to "chew" the greens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

New question- how long does it take to see results? Before i got it (five stores and three hours later), Ugli, Picard, and one unnamed duck had all seized. Ugli and nameless recovered in about two hours but Picard is still hunched up and lethergic this morning. I've mixed food in the niacin water and syringe fed him twice this mirning (3cc both times-he ended up eating about 4ccs total). He drinks on his own but is still wobbly and hunched up (kinda like my chickens when they feel poorly).

They have 150mg of niacin in a gallon of water-about half the gallon is split into their waterers. I added about a Tbs of brewers yeast to their food just as a boost (they love the stuff).

Now what? Hurry up and wait?

Sometimes as long as a week sometimes you see improvement in a much as 2 days. Hopefully you'll see it real soon. and very sorry about the chicks hopefully your ducklings will make a full recovery.

I'd up the niacin to 250mgs at 6 weeks though. we start 2weeks and under on 100mgs.

 

[Troll]

They get grit every time i give treats and the brooder temp is whatever my bedroom is at right now (sweaty degrees). They have played outside and are going to the growout pen as soon as i think theyre healthy. Ugli had two more seizures today and Jean-Luke Picard is still kinda droopy.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They get grit every time i give treats and the brooder temp is whatever my bedroom is at right now (sweaty degrees). They have played outside and are going to the growout pen as soon as i think theyre healthy. Ugli had two more seizures today and Jean-Luke Picard is still kinda droopy.

I do believe I'd change feed, just to be on the safe side. might even take it back where you bought it and tell the store whats going on. Have you looked at the feed real good smelled it? sometimes it can come from the mill moldy or something may not be right with it. Might want to get some activated charcoal [found in antacid section of store] to have on hand in case it is some kind of mold toxin.

 

[Troll]

Feed smells fine, looks fine, etc. I buy in bulk so i cant just return it. Got the charcoal yesterday just in case

 

[Miss Lydia]

Feed smells fine, looks fine, etc. I buy in bulk so i cant just return it. Got the charcoal yesterday just in case

I think I would give them a dose, just once and see if it helps.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700526/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal#post_9508213