Sickly duckling

[KittyIsQuackers]

We got four ducklings from Rural King, two mallards and two black ones that the employees couldn't identity, one black one got sick on the way home and died just after getting home, the other black one got sick soon after but this morning we began feeding it a mixture of molasses, egg yolk, and water. He seems to be improving. Nothing definite yet. (We don‘t know what gender the duckling is, so I’m calling him a he for now) He’s now walking around, but he's sleeping a lot. He's talking, though he isn't playing with the others. I wouldn’t say he’s out of the clear yet. Do you have any suggestions or a better formula for him?

 

[EverythingDucks]

What are you feeding them? The eggs will help. I would feed the others some too.

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

What are you feeding them? The eggs will help. I would feed the others some too.

The sickly duckling isn't eating the feed on his own, he's willing to walk over to stand in the shallow water and drink, but he won't eat the normal feed, just the slurry we feed to him. We force his bill open and feed it to him in an eyedropper.

 

[EverythingDucks]

The sickly duckling isn't eating the feed on his own, he's willing to walk over to stand in the shallow water and drink, but he won't eat the normal feed, just the slurry we feed to him. We force his bill open and feed it to him in an eyedropper.

Have you tried adding water to the food and putting some on his bill? Also, be careful with handfeeding. They can sometimes drown if your not careful. @casportpony

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Hi there - unfortunately, we've had a lot of sickly ducklings this year. With guidance from other byc'ers, I gave mine 'duck lucozade'. That is water + b complex + ace vitamins with selenium, splash of acv and a splodge of honey. I only had tablets so my OH's coffee bean grinder suddenly became very handy .

I would take the poorly chick to the drink once an hour and dip their bill in it, hoped for the best overnight.

I am hoping for the best for your little guy too

P.s I have mentioned lucozade quite a lot and have just found out you dont have it in the US. Its a British energy drink, sometimes given to the poorly who may not be eating enough. And its super bright yellow (and tastes baaaad).

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

Have you tried adding water to the food and putting some on his bill? Also, be careful with handfeeding. They can sometimes drown if your not careful. @casportpony

Thank you, we've been feeding him very small amounts. An hour or two ago he even ate some egg yolk-feed mix from my finger! He's very wobbly and still low energy, but I kinda think most of that is from trying to heal from whatever is hurting him. He's even scratching itches and sometimes preening, or even nipping at the others! He's gotten a lot better over the course of the day! My grandparents even brought a little box to put his body in, they thought he was so close to death, and my Grandma used to work in the medical field!

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

Hi there - unfortunately, we've had a lot of sickly ducklings this year. With guidance from other byc'ers, I gave mine 'duck lucozade'. That is water + b complex + ace vitamins with selenium, splash of acv and a splodge of honey. I only had tablets so my OH's coffee bean grinder suddenly became very handy .

I would take the poorly chick to the drink once an hour and dip their bill in it, hoped for the best overnight.

I am hoping for the best for your little guy too

P.s I have mentioned lucozade quite a lot and have just found out you dont have it in the US. Its a British energy drink, sometimes given to the poorly who may not be eating enough. And its super bright yellow (and tastes baaaad).

Thank you! If he starts getting worse, I'll see if I can try that out. If not, I'll keep it in mind for the next time a duck gets sick!

 

[Miss Lydia]

This drink maybe similar to gator aide or pedialyte

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

This drink maybe similar to gator aide or pedialyte

Just Googled it - yes, it is !

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Thank you, we've been feeding him very small amounts. An hour or two ago he even ate some egg yolk-feed mix from my finger! He's very wobbly and still low energy, but I kinda think most of that is from trying to heal from whatever is hurting him. He's even scratching itches and sometimes preening, or even nipping at the others! He's gotten a lot better over the course of the day! My grandparents even brought a little box to put his body in, they thought he was so close to death, and my Grandma used to work in the medical field!

This is great news ! Keep up the good work (you and the little man) - i'll be keeping everything crossed for you both !