Six week old muscovy duck suddenly cannot walk or stand. This happened 2 days ago. Now a second one has come down with the same ailment. Help!

[triphopchick]

Six week old muscovy duck suddenly cannot walk or stand. This happened 2 days ago. Now a second one has come down with the same ailment. Sudden onset of symptoms. They were fine and running around during the day and then all of a sudden, they lose the ability to walk.

The first baby was fine all day (on a Fri). All of a sudden when the mom was ready to go home, the 6 week old baby couldn't continue the walk home. So the mom continued to get the rest home safely. I picked her up. I noticed her tail was down compared to the rest of her siblings. She could move her head fine, it was just her lower body that were disabling her. The legs just couldn't get her up and move. I thought she was injured, as a raccoon had attacked one of her siblings the night before. But there are no injuries observed.

They definitely are not egg bound as they are too young. I read about niacin deficiency so I gave her niacin powder on Saturday via syringe and she vomited whatever I gave her via syringe. She refused food and water all day Saturday. On Sunday I was expecting her to have passed overnight, but to my surprise, she was awake and alert, but still immobile. I went to get her unflavored electrolytes (Pedialyte) and different food. To my surprise, I put the bowl of electrolytes, a little bit of food in it and niacin and she ate it up. So she has an appetite. But she still cannot walk. I put her outside to be with her mom and siblings and she put her head to the floor. I thought she was dying. But when I put her back inside the crate, she was upright, with her head upright and she seemed stable. I was contemplating bringing her to a wildlife rehab but they said they are required to euthanize any Muscovy that comes in because they are considered an invasive species. So I decided to give her a chance and just monitor her at my house since she didn't appear to be declining or suffering and I was just hoping she will walk again.

But then Sunday evening, her mom and siblings were ready to make their nightly trek home and I noticed another one could not move, just like the one on Fri night. So now there are 2 out of 13 that have come down with whatever this is.

I'm worried for the rest of them.

So is it a bacterial or viral thing? Is there something that I can get them? There are lots of raccoons around so I'm sure they are exposed to whatever the raccoons carry in their feces. I also noticed that the babies are constantly pooping and eating the flies that land on their poop...and there's a lot of poop as there are so many of them.

I hope no other babies come down with whatever ails them. Looking for advise. Any thoughts on treatment or should I bring them in to get euthanized?

 

[Yardmom]

Are they eating a duckling or all flock food? Keep giving extra niacin to all of them every day. It takes a while for recovery if the ducklings are deficient to the point of not being able to walk.

 

[triphopchick]

I was feeding the flock food that I feed my chicken as they weren't eating the duck pellets that I bought. I really don't think it's the niacin issue because it's not the symptoms that all report for that. But I will continue to give the niacin. I think it has to do with the raccoons. There's a lot around and the watering holes that I have are up could be infected. I'll bleach/disinfect everything today. Someone mentioned getting baytril. I'm going to try to get that today. Not sure where I can get it. Is it a prescription? I'll see how the other ducklings do today.

I'll try to find a vet that can see them. How long should I give the niacin to see marked improvement?

I would hate to do this because I've become attached to them but perhaps I should probably take them in to the wildlife rehab hospital to have them euthanized?

 

[triphopchick]

Just tried feeding them. Only 1 of 2 ate/drank. I noticed their webbed feet look like they're wasting away. Almost like shriveling up, but not quite. Maybe from no usage? The other 11 are outside running around and eating. I noticed one is a little slower but his tail is still sticking out/up... unlike these two where their tails were touching the ground once they were debilitated. I hope they all make it.

 

[triphopchick]

Update: The first one that was symptomatic (as of Friday evening June 6) stood up for the first time today on her own. She is extremely wobbly on her legs, understandably so. Three and a half days after becoming almost fully paralyzed, she is alert and making baby steps. Each day I considered taking her to be euthanized because she just didn't look good. She is now eating and drinking lots of fluids. The new one (symptomatic as of Sunday evening) is still lethargic and not wanting anything. I tried syringing Pedialyte but he didn't want it. But his sister drank from the bowl and he took a couple sips. I imagine he will show some marked improvement in a day or two. Once his sister is able to move more, I will put her back with her tribe/flock.

I still don't know what ails them. They were mobile throughout the day until evening when they suddenly became immobile, unable to walk or stand. They would try to scoot but couldn't. Then they refused to eat or drink. What I did was keep offering water to their face, putting it up to their beak. I added niacin and some unflavored Pedialyte to their water bowl and put some flock feed and freeze dried mealworms in it. It took many tries until she finally took it.

I'm trying this with the little guy now. I'm sure he'll turn the corner in the next day or two. I don't know what made them turn the corner but I didn't give up on them because they didn't look like they were in pain or suffering. My friend who does energy work did some energy healing on them too. It really is miraculous that the little girl is almost ready to go back outside.

If this happens to anyone else, feel free to reach out.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Were you giving a niacin supplement, such as brewer's or nutritional yeast, daily before this happened? Ducklings need more niacin than adult ducks.

What niacin supplement are you giving them now?

 

[triphopchick]

I wasn't giving them any supplements. When they showed up at my house late April/early May, I would just give them what I fed my chicken which was typical chicken 5 grain from TSC.

I saw that a niacin deficiency could be the reason. I went to the store and picked up niacin 500mg capsules dietary supplement. I opened the capsule and sprinkled some into the water with food (scratch grain) and Pedialyte.

I really don't know what was wrong, whether it was a niacin deficiency or botulism or many of the other things I read about online. Mama ducks bring around their babies all the time. This is this Mama's third flock that she's brought around and never saw this before. The ill babies were under somewhat constant care in a a quiet restful place in a crate covered with a blanket. So they were (are) able to get good rest, constant clean water, food service and clean, laundered towels.

I hope I can release 1 of the 2 tomorrow back to her family.

 

[FrostRanger]

I wasn't giving them any supplements. When they showed up at my house late April/early May, I would just give them what I fed my chicken which was typical chicken 5 grain from TSC.

I saw that a niacin deficiency could be the reason. I went to the store and picked up niacin 500mg capsules dietary supplement. I opened the capsule and sprinkled some into the water with food (scratch grain) and Pedialyte.

I really don't know what was wrong, whether it was a niacin deficiency or botulism or many of the other things I read about online. Mama ducks bring around their babies all the time. This is this Mama's third flock that she's brought around and never saw this before. The ill babies were under somewhat constant care in a a quiet restful place in a crate covered with a blanket. So they were (are) able to get good rest, constant clean water, food service and clean, laundered towels.

I hope I can release 1 of the 2 tomorrow back to her family.

Sounds like the issue is a niacin deficiency

Also scratch is not a complete feed for neither ducks nor chickens, it should only be fed as a treat (less than 10% of their diet) and nothing more

I would switch to an all flock feed and sprinkle brewer's yeast in for the ducks

 

[StinkyAcres]

I agree, likely niacin deficiency and maybe even a deficiency in other vitamins as well since they were being fed scratch. Balanced chicken feed doesn't even contain enough niacin for ducklings and certainly not the 5-grain scratch. Sounds like your chickens also need a feed change.

 

[triphopchick]

Thank you for your input. I guess it's niacin! What do you recommend for the chicken? She free ranges. I give her cracked purple corn, scratch grain and mealworms. What else should I give her? She doesn't like the layer pellets and randomly lays eggs. She's 6 years old and is really just a pet now. Is the label called all flock feed for the chicken?

What other vitamins are needed for ducks and chickens?