Need Immediate Advice

[HenniPenni]

My ducklings are laying on their belly with their legs out behind them. Attention wise they seem fine and peep at me. But they cannot stand up. Does anyone have an idea what is wrong. They were just fine around lunch today when I last checked on them.

 

[Amiga]

Please tell us how old they are, what they are eating, what the temperature of the brooder is, what bedding you use, if they have been outside, if someone else has been watching them, if there are other pets in the house, what kind of waterer you are using, any and everything that may have changed in the last day or so.

 

[HenniPenni]

They are about two weeks old. They are eating chick starter, non medicated. They have been in brooder and have been doing fine. Not today, but the past two days I set them out in the sun on the grass with a pan of water and let them swim. They were fine until I checked on them at feeding time this evening. They are at the barn. Not exposed to any other animals or other humans but me. Using a chick waterer. I have to fill it two or three times a day. Usually morning, noon and evening feeding times.

 

[HenniPenni]

Also, I am confused about the niacin issue. When I went to TSC to get duck starter the guy tried to give me chick starter. I told him I had been told that was not sufficient for ducks because they need niacin. He said that is all they have ever sold for ducks. I asked if they sold niacin to compensate for the lack of in the feed and he gave me the dumb look.

 

[HenniPenni]

oh, they are on pine shavings.

 

[Amiga]

Might be a niacin deficiency . . . dissolve 100 to 150 mg of niacin (empty capsule or powder pill) in a gallon of water and give that to them for a few weeks. You may see improvement within days.

Could also be botulism if they got into something dead, either animal or vegetable (stagnant water?). If so, they need loads of water, to try to rinse the toxin out. Activated charcoal (you can get it in capsule form and empty it into their water) helps absorb toxins. Some people add epsom salts or molasses to water (please check the proper amounts, I get nervous about giving ducklings things that will induce diarrhea but if it's poisoning they need to get rid of it quickly).

 

[Amiga]

You will probably get that look, as many people get away with chick starter, but a good number have lost ducklings or had the heartbreak of seeing ducklings with neurological problems before they find the cause of the problem.

From what I have read, some ducklings do okay with suboptimal niacin levels, but for some it is fatal.

How's their poop? Watery, smells strong, looks like chocolate syrup?

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Good advice given. I hope they will be OK.

 

[Amiga]

Other sources of toxins are moldy feed or other material. Can you give it an extra sniff and see if anything smells off?

This could be viral (so many problems present like this) or bacterial, too. Do you have poultry vitamins/electrolytes/probiotics? Something that would boost their little immune systems and support them while they (we pray) get through this.

Can they move their legs at all . . . is is just extreme weakness or paralysis? Does it seem to be progressive?

Please forgive all the questions . . . just trying to see if a cause can be sifted out.

Do you have a duck vet or know a waterfowl rehabilitator?

 

[m.kitchengirl]

You are in great hands with Amiga on board!
Those are all the right questions.

Good luck.