Ronnie shivers when she stands, especially her legs. She has been doing this since about two weeks of age. I have been adding brewer's yeast to the feed, and it seems to make no difference (although they LOVE it).
She started on Dumor chicken starter crumble (20% protein), and has gradually been weaned to Dumor grower/maintenance for chickens (15% protein). She free ranges for about two hours a day, and on sunny days her pen is on grass. We have had a lot of wet days, though, so they have been under a lean-to on straw most days, except when I can be out there with them letting them range.
She was *slightly* weak when first hatched, and did not absorb her entire yolk, for what that's worth. She was a "sticky" baby, probably due to poor humidity and my ill-advised handling of the eggs during pipping.
She seems very healthy and happy other than the shivering. She doesn't seem to mind walking--and RUNNING--around the yard, and doesn't sit down any more than the Hermione does, and Hermione is stout and strong. No other symptoms. She is smaller than Hermione, but that may be because of her fawn & white heritage, versus Hermione being black. She was smaller at hatching and is a day younger than Hermione. They are both Runners.
What could this be? Rickets? Niacin deficiency (despite the brewer's yeast--do I need to get niacin tablets)? Anything else? I have raised a total of maybe 20 ducks on this same routine without problems, but I'm open to the possibility that I'm doing something wrong.
Is it likely to clear up on its own in time? What can I do to help her? Thanks for any thoughts! I did do a forum search on "shivering legs" and "shaky legs" and didn't turn up anything that seemed to apply. I'm open to links to other discussions about this if you know of any.
Thank you!!
She started on Dumor chicken starter crumble (20% protein), and has gradually been weaned to Dumor grower/maintenance for chickens (15% protein). She free ranges for about two hours a day, and on sunny days her pen is on grass. We have had a lot of wet days, though, so they have been under a lean-to on straw most days, except when I can be out there with them letting them range.
She was *slightly* weak when first hatched, and did not absorb her entire yolk, for what that's worth. She was a "sticky" baby, probably due to poor humidity and my ill-advised handling of the eggs during pipping.
She seems very healthy and happy other than the shivering. She doesn't seem to mind walking--and RUNNING--around the yard, and doesn't sit down any more than the Hermione does, and Hermione is stout and strong. No other symptoms. She is smaller than Hermione, but that may be because of her fawn & white heritage, versus Hermione being black. She was smaller at hatching and is a day younger than Hermione. They are both Runners.
What could this be? Rickets? Niacin deficiency (despite the brewer's yeast--do I need to get niacin tablets)? Anything else? I have raised a total of maybe 20 ducks on this same routine without problems, but I'm open to the possibility that I'm doing something wrong.
Is it likely to clear up on its own in time? What can I do to help her? Thanks for any thoughts! I did do a forum search on "shivering legs" and "shaky legs" and didn't turn up anything that seemed to apply. I'm open to links to other discussions about this if you know of any.
Thank you!!
