Small duckling with swollen body

[Beth42]

I’ve mentioned my little duckling in another thread, but need some specific advice now.
This little chap, Bob, is 4.5 weeks old now, has always been smaller and not catching up much and still fluffy. Over the last week his body has got much bigger, like he’s blowing up like a balloon. He’s always been a bit of a heavy breather. Could he have a heart defect?
He also spends a lot of time sleeping standing up!
He eats and drinks fine and gets well into the mix at treat time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Where are you noticing the blowing up belly area? chest? What does his poop look like and is he pooping normally?

 

[Beth42]

It seems to be his stomach area mainly, but he does just look like someone pumped him up! I’ve checked his vent and it all seems clean. I’ve not caught him pooing much - but when I did, it seemed pretty normal. Could he be constipated? How would I treat that??

 

[Beth42]

I'm actually thinking now that this may have coincided with the time they moved from chick crumb to growers?? He is tiny, so maybe he isn't ready for them yet

 

[Miss Lydia]

Try him back on starter and see if it helps. I'd place him where you can monitor his pooping . He may have something genetic going on. Eating and drinking means alot so I guess unless you take him to the vet for examination just watch him for poops and that he continues to do normal duckie things. When you run you hands over his belly chest and body do you feel anything abnormal?

 

[Beth42]

Can't feel anything abnormal and his stomach is more on the soft side rather than a hard.

I'll get the crumb out again. I can only just about feel his feathers starting to come in, he is growing so slowly.

(Thank you for all your help by the way - this forum has been invaluable this week!)

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Did he have a hard hatch? Often when I have a duckling that needed assistance hatching it always seems to appear like the runt in size compared to the other ducklings, grows slower and takes little longer to feather. If he appears larger everywhere I would not worry as much if it is only his stomach that has grown I would be concerned. Also if you haven't already Poultry cell does wonders for the little stragglers that need an extra boost with growth.

 

[Beth42]

Yep we had to assist and he was the last. Pipped but didn’t want to come out after 48hours and even then the shell removal bled, so it was a very very slow process.

We don’t have poultry cell in the uk, but I have some bird vitamins coming tomorrow so he can have some of those.

He’s such a funny little thing, I’d hate to lose him.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Vitamins can help give him a good boost. He's adorable.

 

[Beth42]

After a couple of days of chick crumb, extra vitamins and being separated for most of the time, there doesn’t seem to be any improvement.

He is pooing, but not very much.

He is also reluctant to sit down especially on the wood shavings which we line the run with. But he did sit on the grass yesterday when I let them all out as we had a break in the constant rain!