Pekin Duckling Laying down MOST of the time and army crawls... Normal or Not??

[MamaBearsFlock]

Hello Everyone!

New Flock Mama here, and I've never raised chickens or ducks before, but we just got 8 chicks and 1 Pekin duckling. I am not sure if this is "normal" duckling behavior, but she lays down MOST of the time, and when she does stand up she is VERY wobbly... like she cannot seem to keep her balance, so she will army crawl to another spot in the brooder. She is eating and drinking just fine, the chicks are not being mean to her, and I have checked her feet and legs for any abrasions... nothing to report. Am I over-worrying (something I tend to do with 6 kids, 3 dogs, 1 cat, and now 9 more babies) or does this sound like something is going on with her??? Also, this might be laughable as well, but her wings are itsy-bitsy-teeny-tiny. Like the size of one of those colorful pencil eraser caps... is that "normal" as well??

I have searched and searched for these "issues" online and nothing has come up, so maybe it is just normal, but I wanted to ask my new BYC Chicken Family just in case. I had 3 of my Barred Rocks staying in a makeshift chick-hospital (made from my husbands boot box, a heating pad, and a towel last night because they had some pasting (which I knew NOTHING about until I looked it up last night after seeing it on them since the morning), but after I took care of them and tried to put them back with the others.... there was a whole lot of "inappropriate pecking" going on, so I decided it was best for them to be separated until their little back sides weren't so raw. I am almost at information overload, but I am really enjoying them.

Thank You in advance!!!

Susan

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have asked just about anyone I have come in contact with who raises foul if it was ok to have ducks and chickens together and everyone has told me that it is perfectly fine. Nothing about different diets (I asked specifically), having more than one, or separating them. They are all eating "Chicken Starter Grower" by Nature Wise. Other than the laying down and being really wobbly Bernese is not acting sickly. She seems to like the chickens and the chickens like her too. As far as the pecking last night... it was the "You are going to die" pecking, but the girls healed a great deal last night and are back with the others with no more problems. All of them are the same age.

I think Bernese needs some niacin, chick feed just doesn't have enough for ducklings. either in vitamin form added to their water or brewers yeast sprinkled on top of feed, it will not harm the chicks, I would get Bernese a duckling friend though they really need a buddy of their own kind.

And Welcome to BYC!

 

[MamaBearsFlock]

Update on Bernese: She is doing MUCH better already! I swear I saw a difference the next day even though I knew it took a couple of days, but I am glad for any change in the way she was feeling before she was getting what she needed. She is running, standing, and can get away from me now when I am trying to cuddle her! Francis (her little Buddie) follows Bernese's every move, and they sleep next to each other along with one of the Silkies we got with Francis. It is kind of strange, and I am not sure how long it will last, but I am FINALLY able to sit with them and enjoy their quirky personalities instead of worrying! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has given advice, patience, and understanding! BYC is my Birdie Bible!
Side note: We are starting construction on the "Duplex Coop" today... it has snowed about an inch already this morning, but I have the "Mama Bear Cave" (which is my workshop), so fingers crossed the bosses work side by side and don't kill each other in confined space! (He was going to do the fencing while I worked on the coop, but that's no good bc of the snow).

 

[seashoreduck]

Hello Everyone!

New Flock Mama here, and I've never raised chickens or ducks before, but we just got 8 chicks and 1 Pekin duckling. I am not sure if this is "normal" duckling behavior, but she lays down MOST of the time, and when she does stand up she is VERY wobbly... like she cannot seem to keep her balance, so she will army crawl to another spot in the brooder. She is eating and drinking just fine, the chicks are not being mean to her, and I have checked her feet and legs for any abrasions... nothing to report. Am I over-worrying (something I tend to do with 6 kids, 3 dogs, 1 cat, and now 9 more babies) or does this sound like something is going on with her??? Also, this might be laughable as well, but her wings are itsy-bitsy-teeny-tiny. Like the size of one of those colorful pencil eraser caps... is that "normal" as well??

I have searched and searched for these "issues" online and nothing has come up, so maybe it is just normal, but I wanted to ask my new BYC Chicken Family just in case. I had 3 of my Barred Rocks staying in a makeshift chick-hospital (made from my husbands boot box, a heating pad, and a towel last night because they had some pasting (which I knew NOTHING about until I looked it up last night after seeing it on them since the morning), but after I took care of them and tried to put them back with the others.... there was a whole lot of "inappropriate pecking" going on, so I decided it was best for them to be separated until their little back sides weren't so raw. I am almost at information overload, but I am really enjoying them.

Thank You in advance!!!

Susan

Umm no. That is not normal.

Ducks are NOT LIKE CHICKENS. GAH!

For one they need non medicated feed. For two they NEED vitamans like niacin. buy this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042LA2PG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
a 1/2 teaspoon makes 3 gallons.

Ducks shouldn't be alone and they shouldn't really be with chickens, either.

 

[DemonicFowl]

Duck wings are laughably tiny at hatching age. Have you tried Brewers yeast for the duckling and are you using chicken feed or mixed flock feed? Are the chicks the same age? Are we talking "Now you must die!" pecking or reestablishing the pecking order pecking? Any way to put up a transparent border between the two "groups".

 

[Orca5094]

Definitely not normal for a duckling. Sounds like it definitely has some leg issues going on. Ducklings need more niacin than is found in chick feed, so you'll want to add either niacin or brewer's yeast (both do the same thing) to the pekin's food or water right away. Niacin deficiency will cause leg issues in young ducklings. Usually adding it to their diet will fix the problem over time, though.

Can you post a pic of the Pekin's legs by any chance? Just to be sure it isn't a slipped tendon or something else going on?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here are Bernese's legs (I hope they upload... this is from my phone), I will be getting Niacin or Brewers Yeast TODAY, and another Pekin friend for her (we're going to the hatchery for a couple of Silkies as well). I would like to add that she runs like the Dickens to get under the light (but mainly away from me and my daily exams) and does fine, but as soon as "the threat" is over... back to laying down.

Legs look good, but Pekins are one of the worst for niacin issues they grow so fast their little legs can't keep up so it's always best to start them on some kind of B3 right away. Be sure if you decide on niacin to get flush free and only plain niacin will work. start her off on 100mgs then each week add 50 meg to it till she is 10 weeks old. By then they are usually out of danger. Please be sure to post pics of the 2 when you get her a friend but member this new little one will be an outsider so your going to have to gradually get the first group use to the new duckling even Bernese maybe place some kind of barrier between residents and new comer for a day or 2 so they can see each other unless you plan on brooding Bernnese just with the new duckling then you'll still have to make sure Bernese doesn't pick on the wee one. here is some info
http://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-my-ducklings-leg-problems-due-to.html

 

[Orca5094]

Legs look good, but Pekins are one of the worst for niacin issues they grow so fast their little legs can't keep up so it's always best to start them on some kind of B3 right away. Be sure if you decide on niacin to get flush free and only plain niacin will work. start her off on 100mgs then each week add 50 meg to it till she is 10 weeks old. By then they are usually out of danger. Please be sure to post pics of the 2 when you get her a friend but member this new little one will be an outsider so your going to have to gradually get the first group use to the new duckling even Bernese maybe place some kind of barrier between residents and new comer for a day or 2 so they can see each other unless you plan on brooding Bernnese just with the new duckling then you'll still have to make sure Bernese doesn't pick on the wee one. here is some info
http://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-my-ducklings-leg-problems-due-to.html

X2! No visible deformity or slipped tendons. That's a good thing!

Good luck and keep us updated with how it goes with the new duckling buddy! I'm sure Bernese will appreciate a friend of the same species.

 

[Orca5094]

Just keep an eye on them and see what they do. Ducklings can be pretty mean to newbies, but sometimes they mesh right in so you just have to play it by ear. You can try sneaking the new one in when you move all of the birds from one place to another (maybe when you clean their brooder?). So it won't be so obvious to all the other birds that there's a new one in their midst that they can all gang up on.

Oh, and if that doesn't work and the new one does get picked on, try separating them for awhile so they can all still see each other but also get used to each others presence at the same time.

 

[Amiga]

It means she seriously needs niacin as soon as possible! It affects their nervous system - she can develop seizures. It is fairly easy to deal with, but it can be fatal.