What's up with my wobbly duckie?

[Hukkelberry]

I got this duckling two days ago. It is a white crested duck. Today the duckling wobbles and wavers while standing and has spells of falling over. It seems like it looses its balance and wants to lean back really far. It falls back and to it's right everytime. Two days ago the duckling just seemed a bit unsteady on its feet but wasnt falling over.

The duckling is still eating and drinking plenty but isn't as active as the other ducklings. I am providing a formulated chick starter with a protein content of 25% as well as handfuls of microgreens a few times a day. In the water I have added 100 mg/gal of Niacin and a poultry vitamin and electrolyte mix.

The brooder has pine shavings and peat moss under the waterer. The hot spot in the brooder is probably 96+°F and the cool side is 70°F. Only access to water is in the waterer, no swimming pools.

I was thinking that he might just have a vitamin deficiency because I didnt give the duckling niacin supplement for the first 24 hours I had the duckling but their condition isnt improving much. Maybe has a selenium deficiency? The vitamins I added to the water don't include selenium.

Or maybe it just has neurological problems due to the crested genetics?

What do you guys think? Will the duckling grow out of it?

Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

How old is this duckling? I'd go to TSC and get liquid B complex when a duckling is having problems standing walking etc the liquid B complex works better and faster. Also starting with liquid b complex and say it didn't help your ruling out niacin def. I'll get you info so you can determine dose for your duckling.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/
How large is the crest? And can you post a video of the duckling? Crested ducks can have a neurological issue but lets rule of niacin def first, your brooder is too warm duckling don't need to be kept as warm as chicks so you should drop your temp down to 85-87 for the first week then gradually lower it weekly until the brooder is same temp as your room you have it in which usually takes 4 weeks.
The best way to give liquid B complex is over a tasty treat like mealworms. When very young I crush the mealworms in my hand some so they are easier to eat then put the liquid b over it. You want to only offer a small amount of treat so the duckling eats it all and get the full dose of the vitamins.

 

[BelovedBirds]

How old is this duckling? I'd go to TSC and get liquid B complex when a duckling is having problems standing walking etc the liquid B complex works better and faster. Also starting with liquid b complex and say it didn't help your ruling out niacin def. I'll get you info so you can determine dose from your duckling.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/
How large is the crest? And can you post a video of the duckling? Crested ducks can have a neurological issue but lets rule of niacin def first, your brooder is too warm duckling don't need to be kept as warm as chicks so you should drop your temp down to 85-87 for the first week then gradually lower it weekly until the brooder is same temp as your room you have it in which usually takes 4 weeks.
The best way to give liquid B complex is over a tasty treat like mealworms. When very young I crush the mealworms in my hand some so they are easier to eat then put the liquid b over it. You want to only offer a small amount of treat so the duckling eats it all and get the full dose of the vitamins.

 

[BelovedBirds]

I

I got this duckling two days ago. It is a white crested duck. Today the duckling wobbles and wavers while standing and has spells of falling over. It seems like it looses its balance and wants to lean back really far. It falls back and to it's right everytime. Two days ago the duckling just seemed a bit unsteady on its feet but wasnt falling over.

The duckling is still eating and drinking plenty but isn't as active as the other ducklings. I am providing a formulated chick starter with a protein content of 25% as well as handfuls of microgreens a few times a day. In the water I have added 100 mg/gal of Niacin and a poultry vitamin and electrolyte mix.

The brooder has pine shavings and peat moss under the waterer. The hot spot in the brooder is probably 96+°F and the cool side is 70°F. Only access to water is in the waterer, no swimming pools.

I was thinking that he might just have a vitamin deficiency because I didnt give the duckling niacin supplement for the first 24 hours I had the duckling but their condition isnt improving much. Maybe has a selenium deficiency? The vitamins I added to the water don't include selenium.

Or maybe it just has neurological problems due to the crested genetics?

What do you guys think? Will the duckling grow out of it?

Thanks

I hope he turns out okay.... Being crested is definitely worrying here.
I agree with miss Lydia, her advice is always good!

 

[Hukkelberry]

How old is this duckling? I'd go to TSC and get liquid B complex when a duckling is having problems standing walking etc the liquid B complex works better and faster. Also starting with liquid b complex and say it didn't help your ruling out niacin def. I'll get you info so you can determine dose from your duckling.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/
How large is the crest? And can you post a video of the duckling? Crested ducks can have a neurological issue but lets rule of niacin def first, your brooder is too warm duckling don't need to be kept as warm as chicks so you should drop your temp down to 85-87 for the first week then gradually lower it weekly until the brooder is same temp as your room you have it in which usually takes 4 weeks.
The best way to give liquid B complex is over a tasty treat like mealworms. When very young I crush the mealworms in my hand some so they are easier to eat then put the liquid b over it. You want to only offer a small amount of treat so the duckling eats it all and get the full dose of the vitamins.

Ok, I raised up the heat lamp so it should be cooler now.

Here's a pic of the duckling. They are about 5 days old now.

I also added a pic of the vitamins I've added to the water. I added 4.5 grams to 5 gallons of water

 

[Hukkelberry]

 

[Miss Lydia]

How long have you been using the vitamin pack? That's a pretty large crest so your talking about no skull underneath just a layer of fat. which means if your duckling is a female and you have drakes you'll have to protect her from serious injury because drakes grab hold of head feathers and can injure a female duck with a crest. But that is many months down the road. If you don't notice any change in your duckling after a week of being on the vitamin pack I would get the Liquid B complex we have seen some wonderful recoveries
from using it.
Sure is a precious little one.

 

[Hukkelberry]

How long have you been using the vitamin pack? That's a pretty large crest so your talking about no skull underneath just a layer of fat. which means if your duckling is a female and you have drakes you'll have to protect her from serious injury because drakes grab hold of head feathers and can injure a female duck with a crest. But that is many months down the road. If you don't notice any change in your duckling after a week of being on the vitamin pack I would get the Liquid B complex we have seen some wonderful recoveries
from using it.
Sure is a precious little one.

Oh my gosh, my would we even create a duck with no skull??

I've been using the vitamin pack for 3 days now. I'll order that B complex you reccomend, even if I dont use it this time it sounds nice to add to my poultry medicine kit.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It is one of many items that should be kept for our birds.
They created this crested duck because they are cute and many people buy them without knowing what is under that fluff.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-truth-behind-crested-ducks.707110/
They really are adorable little things. I sure hope your little one will get just what she needs from the vitamin pack if not try the liquid B complex. One thing with adding vitamins to water it gets diluted and she may not get all she needs of the vitamins.