All three ducklings seem to have cleared most if not all the oyster shell from their crops. This is after the past 3 days of treating them with supplements and very close monitoring. I've been staying in the lounge with them overnight and sleeping maybe an hour or two, monitoring and feeding them the rest of the time.
The two without leg issues are thriving and pretty boysterous. They seem to have started showing rapid growth again and seem healthy.
The third (white crested) that stopped walking after the change from heat light to brooder plate took the longest to clear the shell, as they had the biggest/hardest crop of the three.
I was sure yesterday he wasnt going to make it as they were no longer standing at all and only eating and drinking very little. I gave them coconut oil yesterday melted and mixed with duck starter, which seems to have done the trick. The White crested sickly one has been passing very large, calcified poops. This afternoon it appears nearly all the cacification is no longer present and their crop has reduced down to normal.
But now the major issue I have is despite hobbling his legs with medical tape and feeding brewers yeast, electrolytes (avi-lyte) and a crushed 500mg vitamin B tablet into water, they are still not supporting their weight on their legs or walking. He does manage to shuffle around slightly, if the other two are getting too close or he wants to move from the light.
But I have literally been up for the past 2 days/nights to monitor and move him/bring him small dishes of feed and water every hour to 2 hours around the clock (I gauge off the other two's eating and sleeping habits).
I finally managed to find another post on here from someone in Australia and the Ceva vitamin B complex injection solution they were recommended. Its being express post from interstate so should be here in 2-3 days (its the weekend).
I'm hoping that will rule out any issues with the tablet (only has 500mg niciamide per tablet, no other forms of vitamin B) and be easier to dose.
I have checked his legs multiple times incase of a slipped tendon or other injury, but i can't see or feel anything obvious. I've looked at so many photos but it seems to be really hard to tell from photos and videos and always seems to be chicks, rather than ducklings. But even when checking against the now healthy two, I can't see any difference other than size.
my only other experience with these symptoms was splay leg in three of the ducklings upon hatching, even the worst case was resolved within 24 hours of supplementing with the vitamin B tablet in water and brewers yeast, plus hobbling/medical tape splinting.
So can someone please clarify a few things:
If it was a slipped tendon, would they have slowly reduced movement the way they did? I am leaning away from it being a structual issue due to the way their ability to hold themselves up and walk seemed initally to become more difficult over time, rather than suddenly unable to walk at all.
If its a niacin deficiency, which seems more likely, should they have recovered or improving by now?
How long does it usually take to see improvement before it can be ruled out as obviously something else I'm missing?
I would imagine they just havent been able to get their normal intake the past week, especially the last few days and would likely be exhausted.
Should I continue with what I've been doing and let them rest from the exhaustion of being so unwell before worrying about improvement. Or, should I be encouraging them to move more in some way, do some sort of Physio etc?
For context, they are showing improvement in eating and drinking since yesterday. Yesterday i was barely able to get them to eat, but today their appetite and water intake has improved quite a bit. They seem more alert, just not moving very much at all.
I would hate to lose them now or let them get sicker just when their stubborn crop has finally cleared. They're a sweet little thing and I'm doing my best, but my knowlege outside of reading endlessly next to them is lacking in practical experience.
If anyone has advice or clarification on my concerns, it would be greatly appreciated.
