TINY call duckling, 3 weeks old..won't grow..what do I do???

[DuckLover9138]

Quote:
Try to give useful, constructive advice as this seems to be neither.

I meant to say that she has nothing to worry about as some ducks are born "smaller." Go read some of the Mallards post who were born smaller than others. They are the ones who are most careful (avoid people, constantly on the lookout). From her post, she thinks because its smaller, it is less healthy. From what I have read, it is the exact opposite. The ones are smaller usually are the ones with better chance of survival. I was trying to state it was neither sickly or dwarf. I guess I should have made it more clear. My mistake.

 

[bt03]

Quote:
Try to give useful, constructive advice as this seems to be neither.

I meant to say that she has nothing to worry about as some ducks are born "smaller." Go read some of the Mallards post who were born smaller than others. They are the ones who are most careful (avoid people, constantly on the lookout). From her post, she thinks because its smaller, it is less healthy. From what I have read, it is the exact opposite. The ones are smaller usually are the ones with better chance of survival. I was trying to state it was neither sickly or dwarf. I guess I should have made it more clear. My mistake.

This is still not useful or constructive advice. This is a duckling that has been domestically raised and you do not simply "let it fly away in a few months" Nor do you "release" them to a pond or any other let them go into the wild idea because they are not wild ducks and would not survive for very long at all.

To the OP I would let it eat as much wet food as it needs/wants to eat. I don't know about he being squished by the others but she may just be a "dwarf". I have 2 Khaki Campbells and one was considerably smaller but has thrived and I know that even though she is half the size of her broodermate (hatched the same day) she is doing great.

 

[easttxchick]

I have a mini-Call duck as well. She's about half the size of her hatchmates, but they are very protective of her and make sure she's kept warm.
She is a teeny maniac, but I have to be very careful to make sure she doesn't get chilled.
I think your little one will be fine as long as it's eating and drinking OK.

 

[HeatherLynn]

I did this with a chicken not a duck but I had one I was sure I would have to cull. Someone suggested not getting enough feed since she was the runt so I would set her alone at feeding time in a separate cage. She is just as big as the others now. The others ended up spending most of their day away from her as they were big huge bullies and eventually I put her in with a silkie for company. She still ate alone but when she was with the silkie there was food available also.

 

[MissusDee]

I had one this year that was smaller than the other, and it caught up. It did end up with angel wing, but I am not sure it was related or not, but may be, because it seemed to grow really fast all of a sudden. I wouldn't cull it, if it seems healthy, it's probably fine.

 

[Serama Mama 4]

Update...Pipsqueak has grown up just fine to full size. He is beautiful.

 

[jonhpdx]

That's great! Good ending to the story