Not having luck with Ducks! ***PICS ADDED***

[Lanissa86]

So I have gone through 3 baby duckling since March! none made it! I had two black East India ducklings that were super tiny from Ideal and did not make it with all the chicks they shipped with...then I bought my son 2 ducklings from the feed store since he was the one that really wanted ducks. I have to say they were cuddly and cute, but unfortunately our black cayuga baby I am suspecting had failure to thrive! He would eat, drink, poop and act normal but was skin and BONES and was not growing while his buddy passed him up quickly. Now our Bob is not looking good! We placed him outside since temps have been 90* + and on the third morning outside I went out to give food and water and it looked like he hurt his leg somehow! There was nothing he could have gotten it caught in so I was totally confused! I figured he tripped over his own feet and he will be ok in a day or so...Now its been 5 days and his hurt leg is curled up to his body and he has "limited" movement of it. He is still getting blood flow to the foot but he is Hopping around on his one good leg! I feel so Bad for him! I looked at his legs for comparison and it looks like the bum leg doesn't have a knee cap

(do ducks have those)? The other leg is big and fat and looks good and this leg look like its missing some bony prominences or something, but why would it barely show up when he is now 5 weeks old? He looks like he is in pain when he hopes around or if I touch the bum leg..I am just so sad for him..

 

[Lanissa86]

Anyone else have duck problems out there? What do I do for my Bob?

 

[GoodEgg]

I'm afraid I don't have any answers for you. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time.

You might get a quicker answer if you posted in injuries/diseases instead. I know I posted my duck question here when I had a problem, but a mod moved it there for me and I got answers in that forum.

I hope you find something out.

trish

 

[Lanissa86]

How do I move a post? Or do I wait around until A mod does that?

 

[GoodEgg]

Well ... I can't see any option to move it. You could ask a mod to do so.

I think if it were me, and kind of an emergency situation, I'd probably make a new post in the appropriate category, and then just post to this one that I had reposted there so hopefully nobody will answer here.

I know the mods usually lock topics that are duplicate posts.

I don't mean to make more work for them or anything, but I don't see any of them online. So if you write to ask a mod to move it, it will probably be tomorrow?

I hope you'll all (mods!) forgive me if I shouldn't be suggesting this, but because of that, I'd just repost it then let everyone know here that you reposted under emergencies.

Hope that helps, and I'm not making a bad suggestion as far as the running of the board goes. Just trying to help.

trish

 

[DuckLady]

The first two ducks...
were they DOA or did they die later? If they were DOA, that just happens sometimes.

What are you feeding them?

Who much are you handling them?

How old is your son?

Is it possible that unintentionally your son mishandled the ducks? You mentioned how cuddly they are is why I am asking.

Do you have other pets around?

Ducks have "kneecaps" at the back of their leg. Since he is 5 weeks and has only shown weakness in that leg for a few days, it is likely an injury.

I will go ahead and move this thread to Emergencies.

 

[Lanissa86]

He is eating chick starter and has been doing fine on it. Its non medicated. My son has not handled him since we put him outside in the new cage so my son couldn't have done it. We put him out there with our 4 week old chicks and noticed them messing with both his feet so we put chicken wire in the cage and made two separate areas. I thought the chicks picking at his webbing made it sore but now its been almost a week since he has not used his leg! His feet look fine and every once in awhile my EE and Australorps find a way in there with him. They do not mess with him. It was my Two silkies that are MEAN MEAN MEAN! I thought silkies were supposed to be nice? Well, thats all I can say. I took a picture, I will post it in a little while so everyone can get a better idea of what might have happened. OR what I can do for my baby. Thanks

 

[Katy]

Ducks need more niacin than is contained in chick starter food. Get some brewers yeast and sprinkle it on his food. Lack of niacin causes leg problems in ducks. Ducks also injure their legs more easily than chickens.

 

[Lanissa86]

Sorry if this sounds dumb..but where do I buy Brewers yeast? Is it a yeast you cook with at local food store or is it something at the feed store.. (wow I feel dumb)

 

[Katy]

No need to feel dumb....I didn't use to know where to find it either! I got mine at a health food store. Not all ducks develop legs problems, but it won't hurt to add it to it's food. I used medicated (with amprolium) chick starter for my ducklings and never really had a problem.