Sickly ducklings

[Ducktown]

 

[Miss Lydia]

What pretty feathers really are coming in nicely. How is the small one doing today?

Such a pretty place for them.

 

[Ducktown]

The small one is still not walking right. When it's in the water, it doesn't seem to be disabled, it swims happily and eats if I throw food into the pond. When it tries to walk, the small duckling needs to use its head (and neck) and wings to push the body up into standing position. Then it walks almost normally, there's no limping or it's not really evident. It stops walking and lie down as soon as it reaches the destination. I don't think it eats anything while outside of the pond (by that I mean foraging). I don't know what else to try. I will need to make it go and find food. Because of walking disability of the small duckling, the large one also stopped foraging. IT responds to the small one's calls almost immediately.

It does use both legs in the water most of the time now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you keep water out for them in buckets besides the pond? maybe you can get some poultry vitamins along with using the Yeast and see if the small ducklings will drink some of the water. It sounds like a vitamin def which is usually niacin but it could be something else too.

 

[Ducktown]

I am keeping water outside, and I give them their feed outside as well. When I tried giving it to them while they were in the water, they tossed at least half into the pool. I'll go check for the vitamins. Strange thing is, they both grow very well, and their feathers, skin and appetite look healthy. I will see if I can find poultry vitamins, if not, I'll up the dose of niacin using niacin pills.

 

[Miss Lydia]

150mgs of Niacin to 1 gal of water. I know your doing all you can maybe living in the circumstances he was in before you got the lil one is just making it take longer to get everything going in the right direction.

 

[Ducktown]

I'm getting a better quality feed and poultry vitamins tomorrow. If that doesn't help, I doubt anything else will. I'll report later

 

[Ducktown]

I am feeding them chicken layer feed now that has 16% protein. I give them feed in the morning and when they are hungry somewhere at midday. They get some slugs in the morning and a lot more in the evening right before coop time, because it gets cooler and the grass gets wet. There are hundreds just waiting to be eaten...

They get a bit less feed now to promote their foraging habit. The small duckling walks A LOT better now. Sometimes it actually stands while eating, which makes me think it's getting better. I did see some limp on the larger duck though, but it faded out later during the day.

Both are getting feathered up nicely. I'll snap some photos when I can.

 

[Ducktown]

Slugging

 

[Miss Lydia]

That was a big one. lol