Weak ducklings?

[LydiaB]

I have 17 ducklings that hatched Wednesday- Saturday last week. So over a week old. Yesterday I noticed the one chocolate Ancona seems weaker and smaller than the others. Now, all the Ancona do seem smaller than the barnyard mix egg. Maybe due to nutrition in the parents? Not sure how those ducks were raised compared to mine. But this little one is kinda hunching. Doesn’t seem to have splayed legs or other niacin symptoms. And I do add niacin to the chick starter they get.
Is this niacin deficiency? Genetic issue? I was really hoping to start breeding Ancona so don’t want to keep a genetically inferior duck. But I also wanted to keep the chocolates especially if drakes to do sex linked hatches.
So far I have added niacin to their water instead of the food. I’ll probably add cayenne pepper too for more b vitamins. They are on grass a couple times a day for extra nutrition as well.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 17 ducklings that hatched Wednesday- Saturday last week. So over a week old. Yesterday I noticed the one chocolate Ancona seems weaker and smaller than the others. Now, all the Ancona do seem smaller than the barnyard mix egg. Maybe due to nutrition in the parents? Not sure how those ducks were raised compared to mine. But this little one is kinda hunching. Doesn’t seem to have splayed legs or other niacin symptoms. And I do add niacin to the chick starter they get.
Is this niacin deficiency? Genetic issue? I was really hoping to start breeding Ancona so don’t want to keep a genetically inferior duck. But I also wanted to keep the chocolates especially if drakes to do sex linked hatches.
So far I have added niacin to their water instead of the food. I’ll probably add cayenne pepper too for more b vitamins. They are on grass a couple times a day for extra nutrition as well.

Do you have any Poultry Cell? it is really good for giving the immune system a good start. Many ducklings have been helped by it. If one is having problems giving it by mouth instead of in their water is best. Giving a few drops right inside the bill making sure they swallow after each drop.

 

[LydiaB]

Do you have any Poultry Cell? it is really good for giving the immune system a good start. Many ducklings have been helped by it. If one is having problems giving it by mouth instead of in their water is best. Giving a few drops right inside the bill making sure they swallow after each drop.

Never heard of it. I do give cayenne, nutritional yeast and garlic in the water the first 2-3 days. I tend to do things herbally as much as possible. I just made them a chickweed salad with nutritional yeast and cayenne on it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Be sure to give them a small bowl of chick grit since you feeding them things other than their starter feed.

 

[LydiaB]

Be sure to give them a small bowl of chick grit since you feeding them things other than their starter feed.

Thanks for the reminder. I totally forgot about that.

 

[My15Ducks]

You can add some scrambled eggs to their food for extra calories

 

[LydiaB]

You can add some scrambled eggs to their food for extra calories

Good idea. I used to do that years ago.

I spent tons of time out there and think it’s niacin deficiency. I’m switching to adding it to the water instead of food and upping the dose. Hopefully he’ll perk up in the next few days.