Sick duckling- help

[Butt_Nugget_Hut092]

First time duckling mom here and I have a duckling who is 3 weeks old and not doing well.
Smaller then the rest, lethargic, sitting under the heat, not eatting a bunch, still drinking though.

Here is a video I took.

Please help!

Video of duckling

 

[nuthatched]

What are you feeding? It could be failure to thrive or a deficiency.

 

[Butt_Nugget_Hut092]

What are you feeding? It could be failure to thrive or a deficiency.

A mixture of Chicken layer crumble and the mazuri Waterfowl Starter because it was the only feed I could find with the recommended amount of niacin.

 

[Butt_Nugget_Hut092]

What are you feeding? It could be failure to thrive or a deficiency.

Her poop is like a white yellow color.

I contacted the person I got then from but she was not helpful.

 

[nuthatched]

Her poop is like a white yellow color.

I contacted the person I got then from but she was not helpful.

Feed only the duck feed, layer feed is for laying birds and just dilutes the nutrition of the duck starter.

 

[Butt_Nugget_Hut092]

Feed only the duck feed, layer feed is for laying birds and just dilutes the nutrition of the duck starter.

Sigh...

The girl I got them from told me to only feed layer feed because duck starter has stuff in it that causes angel wing and her ducks always die when she feeds them duck starter...
So I've been mixing it because I did research and read they NEEDED the Niacin but I was afraid to do too much...

I raise and keep chickens... never done ducks so I took her at her word since she has a whole farm.

This little one seems to have issues swallowing.
And another one is doing a gaging motion every now and then...

Some one please tell me the correct way to raise them because I guess what she told me wasn't correct.

Duck gaging motion

 

[ruthhope]

Ducklings need higher protein and niacin than chicks because they grow faster. So please feed yourself the waterfowl starter and extra niacin as yours has symptoms. You can give niacin in the form of nutritional yeast: 1tableapion per cup of crumbles.

They should eat high protein duckling starter for at least 6 weeks. I just use up the bag that is open at 6 weeks then start them on duck pellets. It doesn't harm if they don't start duck pellets until 9 weeks!! Arguably, they need the extra protein until their feathers are through.

Duckling starter crumbles and duck pellets do not cause angel wing. Ducks fed very nutritionally poor diets with high carbs -- such as bread or French fries -- have more angel wing than domestic ducks on a good diet of duck feed. There is likely a genetic propensity too. But "empty calories" from bread is a major factor.

Good luck with your little fluffies: Ducks are very rewarding birds that often have big personalities. You are in the right place to get peer support with any issues!

Keep us updated please

 

[nuthatched]

Sigh...

The girl I got them from told me to only feed layer feed because duck starter has stuff in it that causes angel wing and her ducks always die when she feeds them duck starter...
So I've been mixing it because I did research and read they NEEDED the Niacin but I was afraid to do too much...

I raise and keep chickens... never done ducks so I took her at her word since she has a whole farm.

This little one seems to have issues swallowing.
And another one is doing a gaging motion every now and then...

Some one please tell me the correct way to raise them because I guess what she told me wasn't correct.

Duck gaging motion

That lady hasn't the froggiest idea at what she's doing, I'm sorry.
She doesn't deserve to have or breed animals, that's neglect.


Do listen to @ruthhope.

 

[Butt_Nugget_Hut092]

Ducklings need higher protein and niacin than chicks because they grow faster. So please feed yourself the waterfowl starter and extra niacin as yours has symptoms. You can give niacin in the form of nutritional yeast: 1tableapion per cup of crumbles.

They should eat high protein duckling starter for at least 6 weeks. I just use up the bag that is open at 6 weeks then start them on duck pellets. It doesn't harm if they don't start duck pellets until 9 weeks!! Arguably, they need the extra protein until their feathers are through.

Duckling starter crumbles and duck pellets do not cause angel wing. Ducks fed very nutritionally poor diets with high carbs -- such as bread or French fries -- have more angel wing than domestic ducks on a good diet of duck feed. There is likely a genetic propensity too. But "empty calories" from bread is a major factor.

Good luck with your little fluffies: Ducks are very rewarding birds that often have big personalities. You are in the right place to get peer support with any issues!

Keep us updated please

Sad Update...
The smaller duck did not make it. She passed away last night around 11pm...
Now I need help keeping the rest of these three alive! Please!

I'm wondering if they don't have like an upper respiratory due to one of them breathing a bit heavy.
I put together a compilation of various videos I took to send to a friend though she wasn't much help. But it shows a lot of stuff with the ducks and their behavior.
(Sorry, it's kinda cringe. I'm not a professional content creator.)

 

[Sondraa]

Sad Update...
The smaller duck did not make it. She passed away last night around 11pm...
Now I need help keeping the rest of these three alive! Please!

I'm wondering if they don't have like an upper respiratory due to one of them breathing a bit heavy.
I put together a compilation of various videos I took to send to a friend though she wasn't much help. But it shows a lot of stuff with the ducks and their behavior.
(Sorry, it's kinda cringe. I'm not a professional content creator.)

Do you provide water deep enough for them to dunk their heads all the way in? They need to clean their nostrils constantly.