Pekin duckling leg problems. Help!

[duck19]

Hello!
I am a first time duck owner currently raising two 2-3 week old ducklings. One being a pekin, and one being a rouen. Just yesterday i have noticed that my pekin is walking with his feet turned just slightly inwards. he does not seem to mind nor does it seem to be causing a major issue as he swims and runs around outside just fine. My other duckling, the rouen, is not having this issue and is walking just fine without any problem. They are both on the Dumor chick starter and at first i believed it was perhaps a lack of niacin but Dumor does contain both vitamin B and niacin supplements. I was considering picking up brewers yeast for more of a supplement, but read through research that pekins often walk around a little funny because of the weight they put on, which i can believe since my rouen is not having the same issue and they are on the same food. I simply would like to pinpoint the issue so if anyone has any suggestions/answers, that would be great.

Thank you!

 

[CoriM]

Yes, Pekins are bred to be meat birds harvested at 8 weeks old, so they put on weight more quickly than their bodies can handle sometimes. They need more niacin than is provided in brewer's yeast or the regular food. Your pekin needs liquid vitamin B complex ASAP. You can get it at tractor supply, your local feed store, or amazon. There have been half a dozen threads in the last week or two on BYC about pekin ducklings with the exact same problem, so do a quick search and read through the posts to see how to give it to your duckling. The sooner you start her on it the better chance she'll have!

 

[CoriM]

@duck19 What was helpful for me to know is that you can't overdose them. It won't hurt them if they get a little too much as their bodies won't absorb it.

 

[duck19]

You can also use a dropper and put tiny drops right under the tongue one drop at a time so they don’t aspirate. It’s tedious but at least your getting it into them. Also any new food you introduce they will need chick grit. They have teeth to chew so they need grit to grind in their gizzard.

i do have the grit out for them, thank you though! i tried dropping it directly into their bills but they did not want to hear it haha. i’ll try peas, too.

 

[Isaac 0]

Funny how they will gladly eat their own crap, but god forbid you cover there favorite treat with a drop of a unknown extract.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If nothing else works out put it in their water for now but if you can get some frozen little green peas thaw them in the microwave smash them a little put the liquid b complex over. Before putting the liquid b over let them get a taste for the peas and mealworms I haven’t met a duckling yet that didn’t love mealworms. Many love peas too.

 

[Bert96746]

Niacin. I had a pekin named Clyde I had to put down last summer because his legs got so bad. I did everything i could to fix him. When i brought him to a vet, they said he probably had more of a genetic deformity as opposed to a niacin deficiency. I still have another pekin named Benny who kind of has bow legs but he gets around just fine. Just has to take more breaks than the other 2 ducks. I hope your duck gets better.

 

[CoriM]

You could also just give them a smaller amount of water in something that they can't spill, and just keep dosing the water.

 

[duck19]

Yes, Pekins are bred to be meat birds harvested at 8 weeks old, so they put on weight more quickly than their bodies can handle sometimes. They need more niacin than is provided in brewer's yeast or the regular food. Your pekin needs liquid vitamin B complex ASAP. You can get it at tractor supply, your local feed store, or amazon. There have been half a dozen threads in the last week or two on BYC about pekin ducklings with the exact same problem, so do a quick search and read through the posts to see how to give it to your duckling. The sooner you start her on it the better chance she'll have!

Thank you! i’ve found many answers but i want to confirm with you, if this is the best brand to be using, if that is alright. Also, what is the best way to give it to my pekin? i’d do water, but they tend to spill most of their water rather than drink it, and with my rouen there as well.

i’ve attached an image of the bottle others suggested. Thank you again for your help.

 

[CoriM]

That one works! I did put in their water but that was just an extra avenue - I know they spill. I was fermenting food so added it to that. Others put it over treats. You could also carefully syringe it in. I think @Miss Lydia was advising on how to do that with a duckling.