Pekin Duck Club!

[BullChick]

Quote:
I made a point of getting a picture to ease your mind. That was the only reason I was out in that stuff! Well, not wanting the dog to pee in the house had something to do with it too.

Seriously, I know you need to see pictures, and you were worried about the weather. Did you know that ducks handle winter better than chickens?
Everyone is shut inside today. At least right now. I didn't have to look at the temperature to know it was not worth letting them out at seven. The chickens will brave the new scary stuff soon. Maybe today. But er are getting another (I think it was) five inches today, and another half inch to inch twice a day for the next week. Then another five or six next week. Everyone needs to get used to it. And the sooner, the better! If they are out enough, I won't have to shovel the runs! Ditto for the dog. I feel bad for small male dogs in the snow.

If nothing else, I have flock blocks I will add to keep them bu sy.If you don't know what that is, it's a big block of goodies (dried corn, lettuce, sunflower seeds, millet... Lots of stuff) held together with molasses or honey. In this weather I can make (those these were bought) one with animal fat, The cold will keep the fat from melting.

 

[OhHaiNollie]

@OhHaiNollie I think for their health and your peace of mind a vet would be a good idea. What type of bedding are you using? these beetles could have come in the bedding as eggs and with the warmth hatched. Does the vitamins your giving give percentage of niacin in it? they need at least 125mgs of niacin a day till at least 10 weeks old for strong legs and neurological health. Please let us know how they are doing.

I am using mostly pee pads with old blankets underneath. I give them Sav-A-Chick Eletrolytes and Probiotics, it does say it has Niacin in it but doesn't give me the exact dosage.The supplements are mixed with one of their water bowls so they can drink it whenever they want. It seems they are doing a bit better today, I haven't seen Tua panting yet today but I was up with him pretty late last night because I was worried. They are both pooping mostly liquid and it smells pretty bad

. Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am using mostly pee pads with old blankets underneath. I give them Sav-A-Chick Eletrolytes and Probiotics, it does say it has Niacin in it but doesn't give me the exact dosage.The supplements are mixed with one of their water bowls so they can drink it whenever they want. It seems they are doing a bit better today, I haven't seen Tua panting yet today but I was up with him pretty late last night because I was worried. They are both pooping mostly liquid and it smells pretty bad

. Thanks for all the help so far.

I am using mostly pee pads with old blankets underneath. I give them Sav-A-Chick Eletrolytes and Probiotics, it does say it has Niacin in it but doesn't give me the exact dosage.The supplements are mixed with one of their water bowls so they can drink it whenever they want. It seems they are doing a bit better today, I haven't seen Tua panting yet today but I was up with him pretty late last night because I was worried. They are both pooping mostly liquid and it smells pretty bad

. Thanks for all the help so far.

Duck poop can have so many different looks and colors depending on what they eat. Even the vitamins can cause their poop to look and smell different. Are you feeding them chick starter? anything else?
Glad to hear Tua isn't panting today did you drop the temp any in the brooder? Pekin ducklings at 3 weeks old are pretty big I'd say they could have temps around 75. I've always used 85* for new hatched ducklings and gone down 5* each week there after. some say 90* first week. Maybe bantam ducks but mine have always done well at 85 to start.
They are kept out of drafts too. I think just to be on the safe side when your out pick up some Brewers yeast and start sprinkling it over top of their feed 1 Tab per cup.Pekins are one of the breeds we see quite a bit of leg trouble from they grow so fast, this way you'd be on top of anything that may come up.

 

[GimpyDuck]

Ferdinand pekin and Biddy the pekin cross. Only one of Biddy, she's the least social out of the three and really standoffish when it comes to people. When she sees us coming she heads the other way but Ferdi will follow us around and allow us to pet him, especially if we have food, the pig.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ferdinand pekin and Biddy the pekin cross. Only one of Biddy, she's the least social out of the three and really standoffish when it comes to people. When she sees us coming she heads the other way but Ferdi will follow us around and allow us to pet him, especially if we have food, the pig.

Gorgeous ducks, Biddy may have Saxony in her with the eye stripes love her face.

 

[OhHaiNollie]

Duck poop can have so many different looks and colors depending on what they eat. Even the vitamins can cause their poop to look and smell different. Are you feeding them chick starter? anything else?
Glad to hear Tua isn't panting today did you drop the temp any in the brooder? Pekin ducklings at 3 weeks old are pretty big I'd say they could have temps around 75. I've always used 85* for new hatched ducklings and gone down 5* each week there after. some say 90* first week. Maybe bantam ducks but mine have always done well at 85 to start.
They are kept out of drafts too. I think just to be on the safe side when your out pick up some Brewers yeast and start sprinkling it over top of their feed 1 Tab per cup.Pekins are one of the breeds we see quite a bit of leg trouble from they grow so fast, this way you'd be on top of anything that may come up.

I am feeding them chick starter and I give them treats (veggies and mealworms) I did notice today while they were swimming that it looks like Tua's legs are farther apart and hes having a harder time, Koa seems to be in good spirits though. I did catch Tua panting for a little bit in the tub and while laying down under the heat lamp today. I also noticed in the bath tua has a dark patch on his chest. Whats Brewers yeast and where can i find it? Also, is there a specific vitamin B supplement i should be giving them.

 

[AxolotlLove]

Love my pekins

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am feeding them chick starter and I give them treats (veggies and mealworms) I did notice today while they were swimming that it looks like Tua's legs are farther apart and hes having a harder time, Koa seems to be in good spirits though. I did catch Tua panting for a little bit in the tub and while laying down under the heat lamp today. I also noticed in the bath tua has a dark patch on his chest. Whats Brewers yeast and where can i find it? Also, is there a specific vitamin B supplement i should be giving them.

http://vitamins.lovetoknow.com/Health_Benefits_of_Brewers_Yeast

When feeding your ducklings anything other than their chick starter they need grit. Chick grit at feed store or go to grocery store and by grit for caged birds, they don't need much so put it into a small bowl beside their reg feed and they will eat it as needed they can not process any other food with out it since they don't have teeth to chew with. The grit goes into the crop and when they eat meal worms, veggies etc. the grit processes the food so they can digest it. Can you post pics of your lil ones especially Tua and this dark spot on his chest if your concerned about it.

 

[OhHaiNollie]

http://vitamins.lovetoknow.com/Health_Benefits_of_Brewers_Yeast

When feeding your ducklings anything other than their chick starter they need grit. Chick grit at feed store or go to grocery store and by grit for caged birds, they don't need much so put it into a small bowl beside their reg feed and they will eat it as needed they can not process any other food with out it since they don't have teeth to chew with. The grit goes into the crop and when they eat meal worms, veggies etc. the grit processes the food so they can digest it. Can you post pics of your lil ones especially Tua and this dark spot on his chest if your concerned about it.

I got grit for them, so i'll definitely be adding some to their diet, I'm also going to head to a store and get some extra Niacin for them. I haven't seen Tua panting since this morning so I think he's starting to feel better.


Tua is in the front and Koa is in the back, this was taken this morning when he was panting and I noticed his legs were farther apart from Koa.




This was when we first got them, Tua is on the left and Koa is on the right.They grow up so fast

I'll see if the dark spot is still there when I put them in the bath later. I did notice when they breath thru their nostrils I can sometimes hear it, almost like a stuffy nose. But its definitely a sigh of relief to see them both knocked out right now sleeping.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I got grit for them, so i'll definitely be adding some to their diet, I'm also going to head to a store and get some extra Niacin for them. I haven't seen Tua panting since this morning so I think he's starting to feel better.


Tua is in the front and Koa is in the back, this was taken this morning when he was panting and I noticed his legs were farther apart from Koa.




This was when we first got them, Tua is on the left and Koa is on the right.They grow up so fast

I'll see if the dark spot is still there when I put them in the bath later. I did notice when they breath thru their nostrils I can sometimes hear it, almost like a stuffy nose. But its definitely a sigh of relief to see them both knocked out right now sleeping.

They sure are adorable I can't figure out what they are on in the top pic but You have to keep them off of slick flooring for one thing. It is really not good for their legs.

Do they have a something to drink out of deep enough to be able to wash their nostrils out anytime they want especially when eating? That is very important the can get feed up into their nares and cause breathing trouble.