one of (4) our 8wk, old pekins is acting listless, hardly walking around,and waddles funny tail feathers and breast stained, looks like had diarrhea. she is still eating and drinking. Got some "lifelites" and mixed some of that in all their water and made sure she/he (still can't tell sex of them yet) drank some. Thought should keep her seperated from the others...but they all got agitated so thought less stressful on everyone to keep them together and keep close watch. Read could be low on niacin, thats why the lifelites, but should I get something else...is this niacin from drugstore and if so...how much? Anyone else got idea what could be wrong with her. Checked feet and legs, they look ok and her eyes are clear.
Can you write more about what she is eating, and doing during the day? Is Lifelites a vitamin or just electrolytes? Try some unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, a few tablespoons in a quart of water for a tonic. Are they getting chick grit? Going outside? Treats? Is anyone else helping look after them?
lifelites is combination of vitamins and electrolytes. been giving the apple cider vinegar all along. they had some peas and small dices of apple but that was last week. No grit , should we be giving them some at 8wks? If so how much? they went swimming in kiddie pool last week but it has been cool and thunder storms this week so haven't refilled pool yet this week.Been checking Storey's guide to raising Ducks but anything with the diarrhea and trouble walking sounds ominus.. The other three ducks cluster around quacking encouragement,
I started giving tiny amounts (a teaspoon a day, maybe a little more) of chick grit from day two (Storey's Guide), along with chopped rolled oats. Try some rolled oats (not instant) as that has fiber in it, but be sure to give a little chick grit or clean coarse sand. It enables them to digest non-pelleted food. And probiotics might not hurt, either, even a tablespoon of plain yogurt with live cultures in a cup of water.
Sometimes they do get internal bacterial infections, so think about whether you might want to have a fecal sample tested.