We have been gifted two (Indian Runner, they thought) ducklings. We think they are male and female and for this purpose the "female," has been acting very sickly. We've never had ducks before only chickens. Daisy is her name and she will not fully extend her neck and she's a bit unsteady on her feet. Her nostrils were clogged so I cleaned them gently and offer her water with a syringe trying to being careful not to get it in her lungs. I've taken a video as to hopefully getting some help. They're not eating as much as they were and I'd estimate them about 4 weeks old. The male duck, Donald (I have a four year old) seems perfectly normal. She has been sick for about two weeks. I thought she was on the mend but it seems as if she's the same or slightly worse. She also got her wing stuck over her head the other day. Never heard of that happening before.
Thanks,
Jessica
Thanks, c r for the notification
@mamacatts
since you are new to ducklings, you need to know there are significant differences in their needs regarding water. A quick note - they need to have warm (brooder temperature) water to splash around in, daily if at all possible. It helps activate their preening behavior - very important for ducks - and it enables them to snoot water through their nares and clear them. It helps prevent eye, ear, sinus and respiratory infections. Below is the link to the duckling care sticky.
Please take a look at this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711
She needs B vitamins - some ducklings need much more - Here is a writeup with all I can think of about b vitamin supplements.
You have some options.
I would go with brewer's yeast. Forgive me for using capital letters, but for anyone else who may casually look over this thread, NOT baking yeast, NOT winemaking yeast. Brewer's yeast is a nutritional supplement and it provides niacin and a few other vitamins.
Generally, folks who supplement with brewer’s yeast use a tablespoon per cup of food.
Ducklings need about three times the niacin chicks do. And some ducklings get leg problems or seizures if they don't have enough niacin.
If you cannot find the brewer's yeast, or if you happen to have (here come the capital letters again, please forgive me) PLAIN niacin - NOT no-flush, NOT timed release, then dissolve 150 mg niacin per gallon of water for the duckling’s drinking water.
Another approach is to use B Complex capsules, and use the B3 - niacin - levels as a guide. Again, 150 mg B3 per gallon of drinking water.
Keep the little one on the supplements for about 8 weeks.
Sometimes it only takes a few days to see improvement.
You can also see how it went for Qwackers and Bentley from these threads.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/857143/treating-wry-neck-in-crested-duckling-edited-title
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/761308/peking-duckling-with-crooked-neck-help
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please keep us posted - worse case, she may have the beginnings of an infection and needs vet care. She may be okay, though, if you begin the water therapy (remember, no soap or shampoo) and vitamin supplementation immediately.
