Sick Duck, Please Help!

[Saxyjazz]

I have a Pekin Duckling named Webster that is 11 days old (sex TBD, 'he' is just until we know). I noticed about 36 hours ago (not quite 2 days) that his feet and beak were warmer than usual. Today he has a runny nose with clear discharge, is sneezing, and sounds a little stuffy. The discharge comes and goes, but the fever has been constant. He is on Coyote Creek organic chick starter, but nothing else. I haven't added a niacin supplement because TSC didn't have one, and they said I didn't need one. He has continuous access to water that is deep enough to dunk his nose. He also gets regular supervised baths, 1-2 a day. His poop hasn't changed much, it is a little more watery, but not much, and only occasionally. We have chickens and I did let him walk around in the coop for a minute once while I was filling the waterer, but none of them are sick. He is still eating and drinking normally. He is still running around and playing, but not as much. He wants to cuddle and be near me, but isn't sleeping like I think he should be, and is chirping more despite being cuddled. I figured with the fever he would move away, but he isn't. I don't know what I should do, or at what point this becomes a veterinary emergency. I am sooooo overly attached to this little guy, it would be tragic if I lost him. I am freaking out just a little bit. Please someone tell me how I can help him. Thank you.

 

[Amiga]

He may have picked up a respiratory infection in spite of your good care. By the way - some ducklings, and we have no way to know ahead of time, do need extra niacin - it's an individual thing, based on what I have seen here on the forum and in my own flock.

If you can get him to a vet, do so.

In the meantime, I would add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar - preferably the kind with the mother - in each pint of his drinking water for a couple of days and see if that helps.

I understand how they can just connect to our hearts so deeply, so quickly.