The lone chick that the broody hatched, looks like it's going to be a pullet.
I was told to feed my rescue duckling, layer feed, and add a little extra niacin. I was crushing a niacin tablet, adding a pinch, and mixing it in the feed each day. I've been concerned about Quacker Sparkles (the grandbaby named it) for awhile now. It's growing, and healthy, but just mopes. He sits on his stuffed animal, a LOT. I take him out, and watch tv with him. He mostly sits. I put him in the tub. He does swim some, but after a few minutes, mostly floats. I try using my fingers for him to chase in the tub. He wouldn't engage. I was looking for other ducks in my area, of the same type, close in age, that I might get one or two, as companions for him.
Well, today we had a breakthrough. Dd #2 came for a visit, and I told her to get Quacker Sparkles, and bring him out with us. (She's the one that brought him to me.) She brought him out, and he laid down. She tried to engage him, so he would walk around. He did a little bit, then laid down again. I was watching. One leg seems slightly bowed, and his foot turned a little bit inward. Not much, but a little. I commented that I would up his niacin. He did not seem to be in any pain. She kept trying to get him to walk around. He was not cooperating. I got up, walked over to him, then turned to walk away, so she could continue doing what she was doing. When I began walking away, he stayed right behind me. I continued walking around. He kept following. When I stopped, he stopped, when I walked, he walked. FINALLY, he's engaging, and not moping.
I kept him out for about an hour, walking until he got tired. We'd rest a bit, then we'd walk some more. After the hour, he was much more steady on his feet, and his one slightly bowed leg, seemed to be doing better, while the foot was not turning in as much. I will start taking him out every time I go out on the porch, so he walks more, and with the increase in niacin, I hope he will be ok.
(should have last yr...
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