wacky duckling

[jeri l]

I found a newly hatched duckling today far from her nest and mother. Behaving in a very odd manner, head cocked to the side, very off balance and sometimes walking in circles. Could she be blind? Brain damaged? I placed her under a broody goose, who longs to be a mommy; she is caring for the duckling, but the duckling is still acting wacko. Any ideas?

 

[Pyxis]

She has wry neck. Treat her with poultry vitamins like Poultry Nutri Drench that you can get at a feed store like Tractor Supply. A couple drops in her mouth each day, but be careful so that she doesn't aspirate it. It can take a while for them to recover so don't get discouraged if you're not seeing improvement right away.

 

[Amiga]

Please take a look at this thread. It explains how Bentley got over his troubles, which sound very similar to yours.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/761308/peking-duckling-with-crooked-neck-help

And it does sound like wry neck, B vitamins are especially helpful. Nutri-drench has some, I would go further and add a tablespoon of brewer's yeast to his food each day, and probably also put 150 mg of plain niacin from a capsule into each gallon of drinking water for him, for a couple of months.

 

[jeri l]

Thank you for the reply, I will try it!

 

[jeri l]

I appreciate that. I will look up the post.

 

[jeri l]

I am now giving her the nutri-drench and niacin in the water. I will report on her hopeful recovery!

 

[Amiga]

 

[jeri l]

Update on our little topsy turvy duckling. His cocked head is completely straightened out, but he still gets to twirling round and round when he gets excited. He twirls sometimes on land, sometimes on water and seems REALLY wired. But he eats and swims and sleeps and follows his mother and sister around. A goose named Mathilda has adopted him and she is caring for him wonderfully. I wonder will he ever calm down and stop his spinning bouts?! I should have named him Whirly-gig, but we named him Hawkins instead.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Update on our little topsy turvy duckling. His cocked head is completely straightened out, but he still gets to twirling round and round when he gets excited. He twirls sometimes on land, sometimes on water and seems REALLY wired. But he eats and swims and sleeps and follows his mother and sister around. A goose named Mathilda has adopted him and she is caring for him wonderfully. I wonder will he ever calm down and stop his spinning bouts?! I should have named him Whirly-gig, but we named him Hawkins instead.

Keep up the vitamins until 10-12 weeks old. hopefully full recovery.