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!

[FrostRanger]

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?

All flock is a type of feed, any brand will work. If your chicken won't eat it, cut out all extras for a while and she'll eat it. A healthy bird won't starve themselves as long as they have good fresh food available but a bird will absolutely hold out on eating regular feed if they know they'll get something tastier if they do

The only supplements chickens usually need are crushed oyster shell and grit on the side, same with ducks although they also need brewer's yeast sprinkled on their food, other than that they will get everything else they need from their feed

 

[StinkyAcres]

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?

All flock would be great or even chick starter. Both will provide your hen with all the vitamins she needs. Also provide crushed oyster shell on the side as a calcium supplement. Cut way back on the treats to avoid diluting the nutrients in the balanced poultry feed.

Ducks can also have all flock or chick starter but depending on the age and breed of the ducks and the brand of feed they may need niacin added to their feed which is often given in the form of brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast.

 

[Jenbirdee]

Where in the world are you at and what kind of Feed store do you shop at? If they have a website I can look and pick out the best feed options they have for your ducks

 

[triphopchick]

Where in the world are you at and what kind of Feed store do you shop at? If they have a website I can look and pick out the best feed options they have for your ducks

I pretty much get everything at tractor supply here in Florida. Thank you.

 

[triphopchick]

All flock would be great or even chick starter. Both will provide your hen with all the vitamins she needs. Also provide crushed oyster shell on the side as a calcium supplement. Cut way back on the treats to avoid diluting the nutrients in the balanced poultry feed.

Ducks can also have all flock or chick starter but depending on the age and breed of the ducks and the brand of feed they may need niacin added to their feed which is often given in the form of brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast.

I will start adding brewers yeast to their food. Thank you.

 

[triphopchick]

All flock is a type of feed, any brand will work. If your chicken won't eat it, cut out all extras for a while and she'll eat it. A healthy bird won't starve themselves as long as they have good fresh food available but a bird will absolutely hold out on eating regular feed if they know they'll get something tastier if they do

The only supplements chickens usually need are crushed oyster shell and grit on the side, same with ducks although they also need brewer's yeast sprinkled on their food, other than that they will get everything else they need from their feed

Thank you. My chicken free ranges and she rarely eats the food I give to her. She'll peck at it a bit then walk away. If I top the scratch grain with the mealworms she'll eat a bit more. But usually not a whole lot. I'll definitely get her all flock. My driveway is shell rock. I wonder if she's getting her calcium from pecking at that.

 

[Jenbirdee]

I pretty much get everything at tractor supply here in Florida. Thank you.

Ok great! So yeah any of these are good and put out a dish of crushed or flaked oyster shell in the side so any of the hens who lay eggs can get their calcium from that, they take what they need as they need it.

 

[triphopchick]

Ok great! So yeah any of these are good and put out a dish of crushed or flaked oyster shell in the side so any of the hens who lay eggs can get their calcium from that, they take what they need as they need it.

Thank you.

 

[triphopchick]

Update: I released the first one back to her family today. Most of the 11 were pecking at her. I was worried they were trying to hurt her. But after a few minutes and a lot of chatter/chirping, they all settled down and became one happy family again.

The second one is still lethargic. He is slowly taking sips and taking a few stabs at the food that has niacin in it. If his recovery is like his sister, hopefully he will be ready to rejoin his family on Friday. It was 5 days for the first one to recover. Maybe I can increase the amount of niacin and it will speed up the recovery? But I don't want to cause any harm.

He can almost stand on his own. These babies are so amazing.