Pigeon toed duckling HELP!!!!

[Fowl0909]

I have this duckling about 4 weeks old, he was born Tiny and severely duck footed and and it’s only gotten worse, I sold him and his siblings to a family member but they were worried about him so I took him back just till he’s healthy. I figured it was a niacin deficiency so I give him supplements and I feed him mealworms, it’s been about a week with no noticeable improvement besides the fact that he stands a little more instead of just sitting down. I had to put him with a younger duck because he’s half the size he’s supposed to be. He’s also been really warm to the touch like he has a fever, he has electrolytes in his water but I don’t know what else to do with him. He’s his family’s favorite duck so I just can’t cull him but he has trouble walking and I don’t know if it’s fixable to give him a chance at life. I’m wondering if a stint would help but I don’t know how I would get it on him. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Ratchnick]

What supplements are you giving?

 

[Fowl0909]

Niacin capsules from the drug store, I add a capsule to his food when I feed him every day

 

[Isaac 0]

So sorry to hear about your duckling.

Could you take a video of the duckling walking, and upload it to a video platform like Youtube or Vimeo, and copy/paste the link here?

What *brand* of feed are you feeding her, and could you post a picture of the niacin capsules?

They're not all made equal, sadly.

 

[Fowl0909]

here’s the link to the video, the first picture is of their feed, it doesn’t say it on the bag but it’s on a label at the bottom and it says chick starter grower feed. And the third picture is of the electrolytes I put in his water.

 

[Isaac 0]

That is exactly what I was looking for, thanks a bunch!

So your Niacin Capsules are 'Flush-Free" which means they flush through the bird's system so fast, that little absorption really occurs. If you want to get niacin into her system you need to buy "plain" niacin capsules, or get some Cattle B complex.

However, I took a look at the video, and I don't really think she's niacin deficient, I would lean more towards a Slipped tendon, as it looks like her left hock joint is fused together, and unable to properly bend.

Is there any chance you could take her to a vet?

 

[Fowl0909]

I think you’re right! I’ll call the vet to see what they can do but they don’t really specialize in fowl. Thank you for your help!