Orphan duck

[JadeComputerGal]

So cute!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

So cute. Looks like your lil duckling has grown some too. amazing isn't it.

 

[Sidhe13]

He has sprouted in less than a week! I have brewer's yeast now which will steady his legs up...is there a recommended dosage?
I also got duck/goose starter mix which they tell me is exactly the same as chick starter, but without the medications. Little chicky will be having that for now since he is the only baby chicken...

 

[Debs Flock]

They're both adorable! Brewers yeast is one tablespoon per one cup of food.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

He has sprouted in less than a week! I have brewer's yeast now which will steady his legs up...is there a recommended dosage?
I also got duck/goose starter mix which they tell me is exactly the same as chick starter, but without the medications. Little chicky will be having that for now since he is the only baby chicken...

I'm so glad to hear he's doing well!!!

I'd go easy on the BY now that you have duckling feed. BY is more for cases of duckling feed not available or for nutritional deficiencies. Too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. Also, you'll probably want to start significantly cutting that duckling feed in a couple of weeks with something like oats. It likely has too high a protein content to use it without mixing for longer than that. If you can give the brand name, we can take a look at the ingredients to see if it needs to be cut.

 

[Sidhe13]

My wee chick has a bald spot. What could be causing it?
And is it normal for the back of a ducks neck to be bald too?

 

[Sidhe13]

Not a very good photo...he kept wriggling...

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Not a very good photo...he kept wriggling...

@Amiga can you take a look at this? He looks too young to be losing down for the first molt, and I don't see any signs of feathers sprouting where the down is gone. The only other things that come to my mind are some kind of external irritant, like continually rubbing against something, or parasites.

Sid--Parasites are fairly common in wild birds, but they're often impossible to see in a photo. I'm sure you're in bed right now, but can you take a close look at him with a flashlight in the morning? Some parasites that choose birds as their hosts are very, very tiny, not even noticeable with the naked eye unless you're actually looking for them. No huge worries if it's a parasite since those can always be treated if you catch them in time, but I'm hoping Amiga will be able to chime in here by the time you get up.

 

[Amiga]

I am not a chick person - aside from just getting all silly when I see or hear them

But here are my first thoughts - what is the heat source, and can this wee one get too close?

Can the little stick her or his head through a gap, such as chicken wire?

Can chicks get skin irritation from bedding?

I would also look for parasites, but it could be heat, allergy, other chick lets, or nutritional needs.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

I am not a chick person - aside from just getting all silly when I see or hear them

But here are my first thoughts - what is the heat source, and can this wee one get too close?

Can the little stick her or his head through a gap, such as chicken wire?

Can chicks get skin irritation from bedding?

I would also look for parasites, but it could be heat, allergy, other chick lets, or nutritional needs.

Another good question is why didn't I realize that "chick" actually meant chick. I see so many people refer to ducklings as chicks that I didn't even pay attention to it. I guess the feet in the pic should have been a bit of a giveaway, but I was focusing on the second pic. I am appropriately embarrassed.