The Duck Thread

[tonisummers]

Stop at Walmart or a Vitamin Shop and get plain Niacin tablets (not slow release or flush tablets) or a Vitamin B complex tablet... you want *I think* 100 or 150mgs of Nicain to crush and dissolve into water...

Savachik an Nutridrench are good supplements for general purpose, but ducklings need a higher dose of Niacin itself...

Also, might want to check into switching feed, I recommend Purina Flock Raiser instead... it's good from hatch to lay and had higher Niacin...

Edited grams to milligrams!!

So I'd use that much per gallon of water, or?

 

[Ravynscroft]

So I'd use that much per gallon of water, or?

Yes, per gallon... sorry, I had to look up Amiga's posts, lol...

 

[Amiga]

Storey's Guide recommends 100 to 150 mg B3 -PLAIN niacin per gallon of drinking water.

If you can only find B Complex, use the B3-niacin in the B complex to guide how many pills per gallon of water. If there are 50 mg B3 in the B complex, then use half a gallon or a little less of water.

Also - I am not so sure about using a heating pad for warmth for ducklings. How do you regulate the heat? And ducklings make alot of splash, since they need food with water 24/7 .

 

[tonisummers]

Storey's Guide recommends 100 to 150 mg B3 -PLAIN niacin per gallon of drinking water.

If you can only find B Complex, use the B3-niacin in the B complex to guide how many pills per gallon of water.  If there are 50 mg B3 in the B complex, then use half a gallon or a little less of water.

Also - I am not so sure about using a heating pad for warmth for ducklings.  How do you regulate the heat?  And ducklings make alot of splash, since they need food with water 24/7 .

Someone on another thread told me to put him in the water and move his legs around a bit. Well I tried that...and he wouldn't move his legs. After that he started dropping his head and seeming like he couldn't handle it. Now he's sitting in my hands wanting to keep warm and squealing. Please help anyone....I'm so worried

 

[tonisummers]

Someone on another thread told me to put him in the water and move his legs around a bit. Well I tried that...and he wouldn't move his legs. After that he started dropping his head and seeming like he couldn't handle it. Now he's sitting in my hands wanting to keep warm and squealing. Please help anyone....I'm so worried

Also,he can't stand he falls over on his back..

 

[Amiga]

The best thing is a good duck vet. A.S.A.P.

But that is not always possible.

Without a vet to help diagnose, we can only offer our best guesses based on our laypersons' experience.

One very common problem is a lack of niacin - B3. We have offered the information we have on that.

If it is a spinal injury, then hydrotherapy if that works - don't move his legs, just let him float, don't leave him alone at all and if he cannot float safely, don't do it. Lukewarm water.

It could be an infection and needs antibiotics.

Since B vitamin deficiency is so common, I would immediately get the suggested B vitamins and begin given them. If no improvement is seen after 3 or 4 days, continue the B vitamins but start giving antibiotics. Without a diagnosis it is difficult to know what antibiotics to give. It depends on what you can find.

@casportpony has published threads on medications - take a look and see if you find any ideas there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...fungals-coccidiostats-and-wormers-preliminary

 

[tonisummers]

The best thing is a good duck vet.  A.S.A.P.

But that is not always possible.

Without a vet to help diagnose, we can only offer our best guesses based on our laypersons' experience.

One very common problem is a lack of niacin - B3.  We have offered the information we have on that.

If it is a spinal injury, then hydrotherapy if that works - don't move his legs, just let him float, don't leave him alone at all and if he cannot float safely, don't do it.  Lukewarm water.

It could be an infection and needs antibiotics.

Since B vitamin deficiency is so common, I would immediately get the suggested B vitamins and begin given them.  If no improvement is seen after 3 or 4 days, continue the B vitamins but start giving antibiotics.  Without a diagnosis it is difficult to know what antibiotics to give.  It depends on what you can find.

@casportpony
has published threads on medications - take a look and see if you find any ideas there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...fungals-coccidiostats-and-wormers-preliminary

There's a doctor here that's an actual avian specialist, but he's very rough with my grown duck so I couldn't image how he would be with the baby. He's not the greatest toward the pets or the owners for that matter. But he does have a degree with birds. There's two other vets that see ducks here as well, but they aren't liscensed to do to. I'm conflicted on which to choose?

 

[Amiga]

Go with your gut.

 

[tonisummers]

Go with your gut. 

Thanks again for all of your help, but little Milo just passed away. He started flailing his little head then just stopped moving. He was blinking and breathing and his heart beating forabout five minutes, then just stopped... ;(

 

[JanetMarie]

Thanks again for all of your help, but little Milo just passed away. He started flailing his little head then just stopped moving. He was blinking and breathing and his heart beating forabout five minutes, then just stopped... ;(

Rest in peace little Milo.