Not getting better-lame duck

[seashoreduck]

I had one duck that started with a limp on Monday morning. Tuesday morning duck was struggling to walk and started him on niacin. He was sepearated, resting in a big bin in my house.


It's friday (day 4 of Niacin) and the little guy isn't really using his legs at all, seems to be in good spirits (gave the dog a hefty nip on the nose).

I have tried water therepy but he just gets wet and mad at me. Legs don't seem to be working, beak does.


I've done 100 megs in a gallon...should I up the dosage?

 

[Zombified]

The following is a link to a site about vitamin deficiencies. I have no idea what's going on with your duckling, but I have a duckling(Thoth, formerly known as Tilt) who had wry neck, and someone gave me this .pdf file. Hopefully it helps you with your duckling.

http://www.apa-abayouthpoultryclub.org/Edu_Material/VITAMINS.pdf

 

[seashoreduck]

Hmm...none of those pics really seem to show what's going on.

 

[Amiga]

Can you upload a photo or video?

 

[Amiga]

I had one duck that started with a limp on Monday morning. Tuesday morning duck was struggling to walk and started him on niacin. He was sepearated, resting in a big bin in my house.


It's friday (day 4 of Niacin) and the little guy isn't really using his legs at all, seems to be in good spirits (gave the dog a hefty nip on the nose).

I have tried water therepy but he just gets wet and mad at me. Legs don't seem to be working, beak does.


I've done 100 megs in a gallon...should I up the dosage?

Could you remind us the age of the duck, flock mates, diet, etc? Trying to picture what may be going on.

 

[seashoreduck]

Quote:
Profile pic is the lil guy

This is him from above...legs are limp. can move them to swim but tries to splash more than anything. No defects, curling. Will try to get another picture of his feet when I can run out to the car for my camera (it's pouring). I *think* he was always the runt of the litter.

7-8 weeks old
got at 4 weeks old from a local grain shop
8 flockmates, I purchased 4
They are on Blue Seal starter crumble
-started 100m of Niacin in 1 gal on Tuesday
-in barn with 9 square foot run from weeks 4-6 (part time outside week 5, heat lamp at night)
-outside full time end of week 6
-3 other guys doing well, generally being ducks (mud and the whole works). Have learned to crate themselves at night but can be spooked out
-they are meant to be pest control (which they have) and will be free ranged.

 

[Zombified]

I really wish I knew what was going on... The only thing I can think is niacin, which you're doing. ): I hope everything is okay! I'll be following this thread, so keep us posted.

 

[seashoreduck]

I really wish I knew what was going on... The only thing I can think is niacin, which you're doing. ): I hope everything is okay! I'll be following this thread, so keep us posted.

going to up it to 500 megs in a gallon, at this point, since I really can't reasonably keep him inside and happy forever due to my schedule since 3 days of 100 isn't doing anything, perhaps a more "shock treatment" will.

He's eating and drinking well, that makes it hard. not lethargic at all....very spirited. Had his ducky brother visit him today and the other one came and laid down next to it.

 

[Amiga]

I would not go that high, partly because the upper limit recommended by Storey's Guide is 150 and I think that over three times that upper recommendation is likely to cause problems or even death, and seems to me that when it comes to living things, more is not necessarily better.

edited to add this from Mayo Clinic online, effects of niacin overdose on humans (and why wouldn't an overdose harm a duck?):


Niacin overdose symptoms include:

• Severe skin flushing combined with dizziness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Itching
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Severe liver damage (hepatoxicity)

Maybe give it 150 mg per gallon, but if that's not doing it, there is very likely something else going on.

Weak muscles could be a pinched nerve, in which case more warm baths and hydrotherapy may be the way to go, and a slight increase in protein for a few days to see if that improves strength is what I would try next. I would also incorporate a wider spectrum poultry vitamin with electrolytes and probiotics.

 

[seashoreduck]

Ok, not sure on the disolving rate on the niacin. Where would I get a poultry vitiman?