The Duck Thread

[Chrysolinsbirds]

Hello everyone! Just wanted to know, which is friendlier, Rouen or khaki? I am interested in both but want the friendlier one. Review on both breeds would be great!

My Rouen is super friendly and nosey.. whatever I'm doing she's got her bill in it lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Jojo had another episode tonite, so he was good for weeks and I thought it had stopped. But now twice in the last week or so. My husband saw it and said he was fine and then if he gets scared or overly excited he throws himself on his back and looks like he has a seizure just kicking and thrashing. You flip him over and he's disoriented for about a min then back to normal. I wish I could fix him. I would never give him away, kill him,nor make him be. An outside duck, I'm afraid he would die. What do I do? Anything at all?

How old is Jojo? what have you been doing for him so far? is he being given niacin or Brewers yeast/ any other vitamins? is he crested? sorry I don't remember. Niacin deficiency can cause neurological issues.

Your being a good duck mama by caring for him so faithfully.

 

[BooeyBird]

I know this is a stupid question, but when should I start calling my ducklings ducks?

Also, I tried giving them peas but they didn't go crazy over them like people on here described... Hmm...

 

[Amiga]

I know this is a stupid question, but when should I start calling my ducklings ducks?

Also, I tried giving them peas but they didn't go crazy over them like people on here described... Hmm...

Not stupid at all! I think I still call my ducks ducklings sometimes - usually when I am talking to myself.

I'd say, at around 7 months - there is still some internal development to go, but they are pretty close to finished growing by then, at least if they are similar to my Runners.

There are some number of ducks who're lukewarm to peas. Mine went wild for them from the gitgo, but mine don't like anything red. So strawberries, watermelon they don't have much interest in.

 

[duckies1230]

How old is Jojo? what have you been doing for him so far? is he being given niacin or Brewers yeast/ any other vitamins? is he crested? sorry I don't remember. Niacin deficiency can cause neurological issues.

Your being a good duck mama by caring for him so faithfully.

Yes, he gets 100 to 150 of niacin in his water daily. They have all the appropriate stuff like electrolytes, probiotics, chick grit, I give them the right snacks. I switched to Purina flock raiser about a week ago, they go swimming daily. I do everything I'm supposed to, my ducks are spoiled. Jojo is about 6 or 7 weeks old. I feel really stupid saying this, but I don't know what crested means, I'm a first time duck owner. But jojo is my baby, he's sweet n quiet n follows me, loves to be held. I'm worried. This didn't start till he got stuck in his water jug when he was about 3 weeks old, I have no clue how he did it, it was just big enough to stick his head in obviously he couldn't get out. And he was upside down, charlie yelled for me and I got him out and held them for hours. He seemed fine, I'm worried its some psychological problem or ptsd , you know what I mean? What should I do?

 

[Amiga]

Yes, he gets 100 to 150 of niacin in his water daily. They have all the appropriate stuff like electrolytes, probiotics, chick grit, I give them the right snacks. I switched to Purina flock raiser about a week ago, they go swimming daily. I do everything I'm supposed to, my ducks are spoiled. Jojo is about 6 or 7 weeks old. I feel really stupid saying this, but I don't know what crested means, I'm a first time duck owner. But jojo is my baby, he's sweet n quiet n follows me, loves to be held. I'm worried. This didn't start till he got stuck in his water jug when he was about 3 weeks old, I have no clue how he did it, it was just big enough to stick his head in obviously he couldn't get out. And he was upside down, charlie yelled for me and I got him out and held them for hours. He seemed fine, I'm worried its some psychological problem or ptsd , you know what I mean? What should I do?

duckies1230, one possibility is that he may have sustained a bit of brain damage while stuck. And yes, I think ptsd or something like that is a possibility, too.

Loads of research is being done for humans that indicates that our typical modern diet does not provide enough of all the goodies our bodies need to heal themselves. And this applies to brain injury and nervous system problems as well.

These are just some ideas - I am not a vet, have not examined Jojo. But fresh greens and colorful foods and sufficient proteins and fats are said to really help the brain. I would not go wild and overload little Jojo, but I would try to start getting more fresh greens (not spinach, due to its ability in some quantities to inhibit calcium uptake), a few berries, maybe a teaspoon of crushed cat kibble or mealworms or similar protein source, and a half a teaspoon of coconut oil every day or two, see if over the course of a few weeks it might help.

These things seem pretty similar to what a duck in the wild in an abundant environment might eat.

I also feel that the attention you give him is very important, too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes, he gets 100 to 150 of niacin in his water daily. They have all the appropriate stuff like electrolytes, probiotics, chick grit, I give them the right snacks. I switched to Purina flock raiser about a week ago, they go swimming daily. I do everything I'm supposed to, my ducks are spoiled. Jojo is about 6 or 7 weeks old. I feel really stupid saying this, but I don't know what crested means, I'm a first time duck owner. But jojo is my baby, he's sweet n quiet n follows me, loves to be held. I'm worried. This didn't start till he got stuck in his water jug when he was about 3 weeks old, I have no clue how he did it, it was just big enough to stick his head in obviously he couldn't get out. And he was upside down, charlie yelled for me and I got him out and held them for hours. He seemed fine, I'm worried its some psychological problem or ptsd , you know what I mean? What should I do

Now I remember. Okay for one thing he can have higher does of niacin since he is that old I would give him at least 500megs daily, but I would switch to Brewers Yeast is he eating good? if so then start using either Nutritional yeast or Brewers yeast sprinkled on his food 1 Tab to 1 cup of feed. The reason I say switch to either of these it's more of a natural way of them getting the niacin they need. Just my preference. It maybe he had his oxygen shut off for a few minutes and it's caused some kind of neurological problems that may never go away but you have to keep trying.
Sounds like he has a wonderful care giver. Just remember when he is swimming do not leave him for a minute. Exercise can bring on seizures. they did with my dd when she had epilepsy, don't stop him for living and enjoying swim time just keep that possibility in mind.

 

[duckies1230]

Now I remember. Okay for one thing he can have higher does of niacin since he is that old I would give him at least 500megs daily, but I would switch to Brewers Yeast is he eating good? if so then start using either Nutritional yeast or Brewers yeast sprinkled on his food 1 Tab to 1 cup of feed. The reason I say switch to either of these it's more of a natural way of them getting the niacin they need. Just my preference. It maybe he had his oxygen shut off for a few minutes and it's caused some kind of neurological problems that may never go away but you have to keep trying.
Sounds like he has a wonderful care giver. Just remember when he is swimming do not leave him for a minute. Exercise can bring on seizures. they did with my dd when she had epilepsy, don't stop him for living and enjoying swim time just keep that possibility in mind.

Thanks. He eats fine just charlie always gets a little more BC she is a pig. His seizures or whatever always seem to happen when he's just chilling and something scares him, its crazy. But I'm going to go get brewers yeast, how much do I use? And can you please exp!ain to me what crested is? The only thing I saw when I tried to find out what it meant was someone saying a knot on the top of the ducks head all most like a scab.

 

[Kathy farms]

Any help with the identity? I bought him yesterday from a keeper who refers to all her breeds as ducks. Here he is:

 

[needlessjunk]

Thanks. He eats fine just charlie always gets a little more BC she is a pig. His seizures or whatever always seem to happen when he's just chilling and something scares him, its crazy. But I'm going to go get brewers yeast, how much do I use? And can you please exp!ain to me what crested is? The only thing I saw when I tried to find out what it meant was someone saying a knot on the top of the ducks head all most like a scab.

A crested duck is one that has a big puff on their heads. They are super cute but the puff is a hole in the skull that is covered by fatty tissue causing the feathers to grow oddly. It looks like a big cotton ball on the back of their heads. Crested ducks are prone to nuerological issues since it is gene mutation.

Any help with the identity? I bought him yesterday from a keeper who refers to all her breeds as ducks. Here he is:

looks like a young, handsome, welsh harlequin.