Weak Little Duckling

[Amiga]

If there is no improvement in another couple of days, I would consider it could be either an injury or infection.

 

[User353335]

The female duckling originally posted about is still quite weak. She's been under treatment for five days now. She can stand and walk, but certainly is weak. When she does stand you can see increased effort. She's definitely eating and drinking (she's marginally larger than the other ducklings, probably due to lack of exercise). She lays around a lot of the time. Yesterday and today we started outside swimming and she swims as well as the other ducks. I've been trying to get her to swim an hour a day. Then we slowly walk around the yard as a flock (abusing that imprinting, while I still can) and she does keep up with the other ducks. If I stop, she lays down immedially.

The only time she seems normal is in the water. Does anyone have feedback on if we are on the right track considering we are 5 days into treating this potential niacin deficiency or should I consider another issue? I can post pictures if needed. I checked for bumblefoot but that appeared normal. She doesn't appear to have a splayed leg. I'm not sure what her issue is.

 

[casportpony]

Can you post a picture of her poop?

-Kathy

 

[Amiga]

Ducklings can have congenital problems, as well as infections. Those are two other possibilities.

 

[ShannonG]

If there is no improvement in another couple of days, I would consider it could be either an injury or infection.

Here is one pic. I have a video but can't seem to figure out how to upload it. The poor thing just plops down and cries :-(

 

[casportpony]

Thinking out loud here... I *think* turkeys have a high niacin requirement, so maybe you could try a turkey starter?

-Kathy

Higher than chickens, not higher than ducks!

 

[casportpony]

Or maybe try the Mazuri waterfowl feed?

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Haven't read this yet, but it looks like it might have some useful info in it:
https://www.dsm.com/markets/anh/en_US/Compendium/poultry/niacin.html

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

"The duck has a very high niacin requirement (approximately twice as high as chickens), with considerably higher levels of picolinic acid carboxylase activity (Scott et al., 1982)."

-Kathy

 

[ShannonG]

Unfortunately Handy (the duck pictured above) is gone. We went to an Avian Vet today and the Vet thinks it must have been caused by a virus. He was paralyzed in one leg, had developed poly arthritis (?) and had a paralyzed tail. I did the only humane thing I could do for him, he was so swollen and in so much pain :-(
I am just saddened beyond belief right now