Oh no! Holderread ducklings ailing...

[FenDruadin]

I think it's probably my fault, but I'm so upset--this morning TWO of my four-week-old Holderread magpies can't walk. They stumble around, occasionally get up and move a few steps and collapse again. They're already smaller than the other ducks--you know how fast they grow at this age, and they're not eating since they stopped walking.

I'm so worried!

I think it's my fault--I had switched them, gradually, from the mixed chick starter/game bird starter feed to chick grower at 15% protein, and a couple days ago they began eating straight 15% chick grower. Maybe they're not getting enough niacin--does that make sense? Also, the grower was a bag from last year, but it was never opened until a few weeks ago--does the nutritional quality degrade even in an unopened bag? On the other hand, they are out in the grass all day, so I thought they'd make up the deficit in grass & bugs.

Anyway--I've switched them back to the game bird/chick starter mix with the higher niacin. I want to also put niacin in their water but I don't have any handy that isn't the flush-free variety, and I'm not sure if the ingredients in the flush-free type are safe for ducks.

Any other suggestions? I'm so worried about them. I only ordered ten magpies, and one of them died at a few days of age (she also started with not walking). If these two don't recover, I'll be down to seven ducks, and I don't know how many will end up hens.

I do think it's my fault but... is there any chance Holderread might have had a bad batch of magpies? It seems strange--I've never had trouble raising ducklings before, and it's weird to have three out of a batch of ten have so many problems, and all of them similar--the weakness in the legs, the failure to thrive...

If they don't recover, I'll call Holderread on Monday. I'm so upset (not at Holderread--just at the situation--I'm so sad!).

 

[Sweetfolly]

Oh no!

I suppose you can't get Purina Duck Grower feed where you are? Most of us can only get it in the Midwest. I switched all my Holderread ducklings to that at two-and-a-half weeks, and they're all doing great - when I switch to the Duck Grower, I stop giving supplemental Brewer's Yeast and/or Niacin.

Maybe some yogurt with Poly-vi-sol would help give them a temporary boost?

 

[RavenStorm]

Quote:
Yes, the nutritional quality degrades even if the bag is unopened. When you take a feed substance, let's used corn for example, and crush it to process the grain into feed the oils trapped inside become exposed to the air. This oxidizes the food, and eventually the oils turn rancid. Before they turn rancid though, they just slowly lose some of their nutritional value every day. When you buy feed it should be in proportion to the size of your flock/herd/etc. and used as quickly as possible.

 

[Wifezilla]

Get a small bag of game bird feed and sprinkle some crushed brewer's yeast tablets over the top.

 

[FenDruadin]

Thanks, guys. Those two are in sad shape. They've gotten worse over the course of the day. I switched back to the game bird starter, but they aren't even eating. Crap. I'm planning to throw the old feed out, but I feel awful about those ducks. It kinda ruined my day.

Actually, it's been one of those days anyway. Some days are diamonds... but this one ain't.

Maybe tomorrow.

 

[FenDruadin]

One duckling died one duckling recovered. I'm almost 100% now it was the feed. I feel terrible--it's totally my fault. And the one that died was the one my six-year-old had picked out to be "his." It's the third duck he's picked out and had die in the past three years. It's the kiss of death for him to pick one as his own. And it hasn't escaped his notice that that's the case.

Sigh.

Now I'm down to eight magpies of the ten I ordered. One had a congenital problem. I also have a Stanbridge White and five Runners from the same batch.

Anyway.

Thanks for the thoughts and support. Apparently, replacing the feed was all that was necessary, but the one duck was just too far gone.