What to do about a duck who keeps falling over on his back.....we found him four times now!

[zachandleea]

Bronson (our biggest and most in charge) keeps getting turned over. He lays there until someone comes along and turns him back over. With the last week having such high temps (over 100 each day), I am worried. If he had not been found in the direct sunlight then he certainly would have died. Is this normal?

 

[Amiga]

How old is Bronson? He may have a nutrient deficiency. Niacin deficiency affects some ducks, causing leg and nervous system problems.

You could try 100 to 150 mg of niacin per gallon of water for a few weeks to see if that helps. It should do no harm to him or the others, from anything I have read.

 

[zachandleea]

We are new so other than shelter, baby pool, and fence.....we are clueless. He is almost 6 weeks. We recently went from Starter feed to pellets.....about a week ago.

 

[Amiga]

Chick starter?

 

[zachandleea]

It is for all birds...at Rural King. It is basically ground up corn. Now they are on Fowl Pellets.

 

[Amiga]

Corn has calories, but lacks a number of nutrients. Especially for ducklings, something with a wider variety of goodies like amino acids, minerals, proteins would make a big difference in their long term and possibly short term health.

I would get ahold of some poultry vitamin/electrolyte/probiotic mix and give that to them every other day for a couple of weeks, then once a week. I would look into a small bag of a complete starter ration and start mixing that 50/50 with the grower that you are feeding them to try to play catchup.

Do you give them treats or let them forage outside?

 

[zachandleea]

they forge outside all day and take trips tot he garden. They also get Crickets from Walmart about once a week. We laugh like crazy watching them go for them all over the place. We will try to find some of the things you suggested. Thank you.

 

[Amiga]

Keep a well balanced pelleted feed out for them 24/7, use the vitamins, perhaps even add 100 mg of niacin per gallon to their drinking water for the next couple of months, and please please keep us posted.

 

[kaleymichelle]

One of my ducklings about a month old has only fallen over twice, it was spaced out though, once when I first brought him home and once tonight, he swims and walks just fine, what could be the problem? Is it normal? Can they get up on their own? Most importantly can it kill them if no one is around to flip him back over, it's only happened twice but I'm cautious and want to make sure their very healthy and okay

 

[Miss Lydia]

One of my ducklings about a month old has only fallen over twice, it was spaced out though, once when I first brought him home and once tonight, he swims and walks just fine, what could be the problem? Is it normal? Can they get up on their own? Most importantly can it kill them if no one is around to flip him back over, it's only happened twice but I'm cautious and want to make sure their very healthy and okay

Something is going on and may work itself out but have you ever given your ducks Brewers yeast or niacin ? sometimes a dif in niacin can cause neurological problems and putting some in their water or sprinkled over feed can usually clear it up in a few days to a week. What feed do you use? feed formulated for chickens doesn't have the amount of niacin ducks[waterfowl need] so supplementation is needed. It can also cause leg problems, I wouldn't want to leave a duckling to try a right itself some may be able to others can't. so close supervision is needed until you figure out whats going on. Brewers yeast or nutritional yeast is what i use others use plain niacin for a month old duckling you'd need 200 megs to 1 gallon of water, crush the pill up and mix.