Pekin Duckling 12 Days Cant Walk or Balance - Need Assistance

[Haunted55]

That would be great for him! I'm just trying to think of anything you could try to help him out. I have read that the crested ducks can have some nuerological issues because of the crown. I'm just wondering if the B vitamins would help straighten him out. You've done amazing things with this little one and your/his story has touched me. I think about it often and in my head it keeps going back to the B's and how much they control muscle and nerve function.

Above all, the walker has probably done the most for him. Everytime he is in it, it is teaching his brain to use different pathways to make things work. Eventually, he may over come all of it just by using the walker. Wish there was something I could tell you, that would help make this a faster result

 

[valleysue1957]

hi When do pekin ducks get there feathers? I have 6 of them I love them ty

 

[Silverladyrae]

I can't speak for what's "normal", but mine are just shy of 8 weeks and are almost fully feathered. A Lil bit of down left around the neck, but body and wings are just about complete. When I got these I was told 2-3 months and they would reach full growth.

Hope it helps!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can't speak for what's "normal", but mine are just shy of 8 weeks and are almost fully feathered. A Lil bit of down left around the neck, but body and wings are just about complete. When I got these I was told 2-3 months and they would reach full growth.

Hope it helps!

Did you really give your little duck away?

 

[mistyww]

I have the same problem with my duck. You gace great instructions on how to harness him in the walker but somehow I just can't get it right. I have the walker I just need to know how to make the harness. Can you please help me?

 

[Silverladyrae]

I wish I had taken pictures, and I no long have his materials, but the basic bottom layer was a triangle, with the widest part at his chest level to support his chest, and the narrrowest part went between his legs. I would then take a strap and run it across the top of the walker so he wouldnt flop himself out if he started flailing, with staps attached to the triangle running up to the supports of the walker, that would keep him from rolling out. It's a hit or miss kinda thing, I had to adjust it ALOT until he reached about full size, at that point he understood not to hop out, and didnt need the top strap, just the bottom to support his chest and he would brace his chest against the walker bar to start himself moving. I'll see if I can find any pics.

Another AWESOME trick I used for him so he didnt always have to use the walker was to take a small dog harness, tear it down and rebuild it to fit his specs, the top strap fit nicely btw his wings, the bottom circle around his tail behind his legs, and the top around his upper chest (NOT the neck). With this I could walk him similar to a dog, and the straps gave the support he needed to stay on his feet while he did all the actual work. Kinda like a duck puppet, as odd as that sounds, since you'll still need to provide the muscle to hold him up.

 

[Silverladyrae]

Here's a youtube video I made, you can see the straps, this was one of the prototypes, (thus all the safety pins lol) but this turned into the best design for him, minus the straps on his body. Depending on the size of your lil one, you might not need them. A week later and my Huey was big enough to not slide btw them and fall out so he didnt need to be strapped in.

OH! I almost forgot, I did find it better to attach the front 2 straps to the front of the walker and not the sides. As he grew, he kept sliding them back and trying to fall out the front, so attaching those first 2 up front gave the chest support he needed and kept him from nosediving out.

 

[mistyww]

ok thank you. I'm so sad that my Nibbles can't walk. I have him in the house but it is very messy. Do you still have your duck

 

[team muff]

Do you have any updates on how your ducky is doing? I have a duck who is pretty similar. She is about 3 weeks old now and is much stronger and more lively but still struggling with balance.

 

[Silverladyrae]

I just recently got an email with pictures from the lady who cares for him now, and he is still healthy and happy, but has never gained the ability to balance on his own.

It's just a missing part of his brain in his case.

If you don't see improvement, yours may have the same disability, but if you plan on keeping it as a pet, it can have a happy and healthy life with some adjustments to its cage like I showed in this thread, and a walker should you want it to be able to run around outside of its enclosure. I wish you luck! Even tho mine wasnt able to walk on his own, he was very upbeat and normal in every other way, and absolutely loved to cuddle, so if that is your plan, make sure you get plenty of hands on with it.