Weak legs?

[Broodica]

We put the ducklings and chicks outside for a bit yesterday as it was so warm. Put them all together in a pen in the sun. Aside from a few pecks at each other, they all seemed fine. Today, we will try a short swim for the ducklings.

We noticed that our new 5 day old Rouen leg's, seem a little weak. They are not splayed, per se, but he/she seems to hold them apart more than the mallard and while he/she runs around and keeps up with the mallard, he lies down a lot more than her. He will walk from one end of the brooder to his food and water and plunk himself down. They are the same age. The Rouen is definitely bigger than her, his feet are larger and his legs seem robust, but while she stands to drink and eat, he'll waddle over and then plunk himself down to eat and drink. They are on duck starter mixed 1/10 with grit and I have added a vitamin/electrolyte mixture to their water. Storey's said it could be a lack of Niacin? I don't think he had a great diet from where I got him. Mind you he had just hatched last Sunday and I picked him up on Thursday. I saw mom and dad and they were huge, gorgeous, very healthy looking Rouens.

I had them on paper towels in the brooder, but he had been on grass for 3 days before I got him and I thought maybe it was too slippery for him, so I put them on straw. If I take them out, they will follow my son back to the brooder, the Rouen lagging a bit behind the Mallard, but he has this funny almost like a bow-legged gate. It's a good 40 feet from the brooder and he makes it all the way no problem.

Being totally new to this duckling and chick obsession, I might be just a silly, worried mom, but something just set off an alarm bell in my head when I noticed his gait, especially in comparison to the mallard. So am I nuts or should I be concerned?

Again, any advice would be most gratefully received.

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

I just went through this problem~ What I did was put Niacin in their water and mix their food with yogurt and the Niacin water mix to make a mush. I think I did this for a few days and then have been giving them yogurt and mixed water the rest of the time. I would do this as soon as you can as I had one that was hopping and only using one foot and it was tough to watch. Hop-along is better now and you can only tell it's him because he is now smaller than the others from 4 days of hopping on one foot.

Hope you can get to the bottom of this quickly

 

[katharinad]

Add niacin to the diet. Ducks need more the chicks do. A shortage of niacin usually shows first in larger breeds. Anyway you can find niacin at Walmart in the supplement isle. Get one that you can crush and mix into the drinking water. You will need 100mg per 1 gallon. Give it for 7 days in addition to the supplement you are currently give. That should help with the growing pains.

 

[Broodica]

Thanks so much.

There is niacin in the vitamin/electrolyte solution I have added to their water, but I will also get the just plain niacin and add it in as well. I believe they can't OD on it? I'll try the yogurt as well. Is it too early to give them greens like dandelions leaves, broccoli? I have heard they contain niacin as well. I read somewhere that swimming is good to strengthen their legs, but I know I have to limit that at this young age. How long should it take before I see an improvemment if it is just a nutritional issue? I started them on the extra vitamins, etc. just yesterday.

Thanks again for the advice. You guys are great!

 

[Broodica]

My son has small crickets for his young gecko. I added a few into the brooder......they don't seem to like them, but they liked a winged termite we found. The chicks LOVE the crickets.

Got some niacin, so adding 100mg to the water as well as the vitamin/electrolyte mixture. I'll keep it up for a week. If it seems to be getting worse, I have found a vet that works with poultry and game fowl.

Keeping fingers crossed!

Tanks again for all your help!

 

[katharinad]

They cannot OD on water soluble vitamin B3 in ducks. It's good to give them the extra boost for the next week in addition to what the vitamin water has. You should see improvement within a day or two. They are still to young to give them greens as is, but you can puree it in the blender. I give mine pureed peas when they are 3 days old. Watch out for the mess they make.

For whole food wait until they are over a week old and then chop it down somewhat. The yogurt is good for probiotics. I also offer mine builders sand from day 3 on. They don't need much of it, but it helps them with the food. They are not ready for grid yet. You can probably use plain garden sand, but I would boil it in water first. Make sure there is not fertilizer in it. Builder's sand can be purchased in a 20 pound bag at home depot. Its really cheap. I let mine swim in the bath tub from day 3 on as well. I first use a paint tray and then offer a deeper tub as they grow until they get the full bathtub. Make sure to only use warm water so they don't chill. Just watch them and you will see when they have enough. At that point I dry them with paper towels and put them back under the heat lamp. That way they learn to preen really fast, even though their gland does not work yet. Exposure to water stimulates the preen gland.

 

[Broodica]

Our now 9 day old Rouen's legs seem to be much stronger now.....even though he is getting so big! He's not sitting down all the time anymore. Been keeping up the niacin, electrolytes and vitamins plus, and ACV. Should I keep giving this to them? It seems like they can't OD on that stuff. Also making sure they get out to run around in the house every day. The Mallard is thriving as well, and still making sure that the Rouen knows who's boss.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! You guys are awesome. Looks like it's working!

 

[katharinad]

Wonderful news. I would keep them on this at least once per week until they are 12 weeks old. After that once per month should be enough. I keep my babies on it for the first 10 days of their life, and would suggest to keep yours for a few more day on it, because they had some issues.