Runt duckling - Maybe weak? Need help with strengthening

[Goat_Walker]

Well I have two ducklings that are smaller than tha rest - Cricket and Catfish. Any who - cricket somehow is always under the dogpile when its nap time, and unless he is on the kitchen floor eating and playing with everyone - he doesnt really walk. He is small and his legs are weak.


What supliments (sp?) do I need to help strengthen his legs and boost some energy into him?

 

[threehorses]

They need more nutrition. Ducklings are active and pushy little creatures (which is why we love them). It's likely he's not getting his share of the food. I'd separate the two that you're describing and make good and sure they're getting their own feed.

Also, what are you feeding them?

sorry about the late reply- your post disappeared off the front page.

 

[chickensioux]

I, too have a "microduck". I am giving Brewers Yeast tablets, cod liver oil and bee pollen in it's feed. These are all things that were suggested to me from different members on BYC.
Each day (in Micro's peas) I alternate one of these things. I crush a whole Brewers Yeast tab (Walmart) in her peas or squirt 2 cod liver oil caplets or sprinkle a bee pollen over them.
She is 9 weeks old and still the size of a week old duckling. Since I have been adding these things to her food, she has FINALLY started to feather out. Which leads me to the conclusion that her problem is nutritional. Her sisters feathered out and grew just fine.
Point being, added nutrition might help for your little guys too.


Brewers Yeast contain niacin that is good for ducks and helps with growth and leg issues.

 

[threehorses]

That's really an amazing story! Perhaps she didn't get the memo that she's not a Call Duck!

Yes, nutritional issues (from before hatch) sometimes take a while to catch the baby up - so I'm glad she's getting her feathers.

Once in a while, batches of babies will have one or two that are dinky, or different, or slow. It happens more often the less new blood brought in.

I had one like that which I loved dearly. "Wacky" because she was pretty wacky. She started off life hard as she hatched late, by a day, in the 100 degree heat we had. When I found her, she was sucked into a mud puddle and covered with fireants. Only her head was showing.

When I cleaned her off, I knew immediately she wasn't a normal duckling. And after 2 days of eating, she would move like greased lightening - zipping everywhere in her little cage. (Thus her name). She grew up to be a very special girl. She's go to the front door and quack for me to open it. If I wouldn't, she'd go to the back door and do the same. Eventually I'd open the door and, of course, I'd have to put her in the feed bin and let her eat secretly - how could I say "no" to a duck that quacked at both doors?