Pekin duck walking on "elbows"

[AmberCamilia]

Hello all,

I have two Pekin ducklings (1 week, 2 days old). One of the ducklings seems to be walking on her "elbows" and usually sits most of the time. I've never had pet ducks so I'm very inexperienced. I am feeding them a chick starter feed (18% protein, non-medicated). I heard that some ducks need niacin, should I give them some? Any information will help - thanks!

Also, I keep these ducklings in a 35-40 gallon tub. Do they need more space? Could that be the problem?

 

[Pyxis]

It does sound like a possible niacin deficiency. Pick up some Brewer's yeast and add it at about a 5% ratio (so that's 1/2 pound per ten pounds of feed, for example) to their feed.

Poultry Nutri-Drench also has niacin in it along with a lot of other good stuff and you might want to start adding that to their water, too. You can give the one with leg problems a drop or two directly by mouth each day to hopefully speed the healing along. Don't force it to the back of his throat or he could aspirate, just gently open his beak, put a drop or two inside, and then let go so he can swallow on his own.