Wobbly Runner Duckling not eating

[Newtothefarm]

Hi everyone,

Pretty new to ducklings but I’ve got one not doing well. One of my 3 week old runner ducklings started getting a kinked a neck around 2 weeks. I began adding electrolytes to their water and that seemed to straighten out its neck.
Yesterday I noticed it’s been very wobbly almost to the point of falling over. I separated the little duckling from the others because it was getting bumped and pushed over then about trampled. I’ve been making sure it drinks water with added nutrients. It won’t eat but will drink water with added nutritional yeast.
The duckling also seems to have some tremors. Its poop is a dark green but its only been outside a handful of times so I don’t think it could still be whatever grass was consumed. Very vocal and does get up when I come near.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

It may have wry neck. The treatment is selenium and vitamin E. I believe some use poultry cell to treat.

@HollowOfWisps might be able to give some advice.

 

[Newtothefarm]

It may have wry neck. The treatment is selenium and vitamin E. I believe some use poultry cell to treat.

@HollowOfWisps might be able to give some advice.

Thank you for the reply!

That’s what I was thinking it seemed like early on too. The green poop threw me though. I’ve been adding poultry nutri-drench to its water and making sure it’s drinking throughout the day. Do you know if that’s similar?

Then since it wasn’t eating I added some nutritional yeast to the water as well. I don’t know if there’s something else I could try feeding with an eye dropper to get something in its belly?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Thank you for the reply!

That’s what I was thinking it seemed like early on too. The green poop threw me though. I’ve been adding poultry nutri-drench to its water and making sure it’s drinking throughout the day. Do you know if that’s similar?

Then since it wasn’t eating I added some nutritional yeast to the water as well. I don’t know if there’s something else I could try feeding with an eye dropper to get something in its belly?

Similar, but different. Nutri-drench is more of an emergency perk. Some use it for wry neck treatment, but I think poultry cell has more of what is needed. I don't know what the percentages needed are to cure wry neck without researching. But, I know some give poly-vi-sol vitamins. I've never treated wry neck, but I've read a lot about it.

This quote was in another thread from eggcessive who is very knowledgeable:

Most chicken owners give 2-3 drops of Polyvisol without iron once a day. Consider getting Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell at your feed store which are for chickens. The dosage of those is 1 ml per every 3 pounds of weight. They contain vitamins, including E and B1’ plus selenium which are food for wry neck,) minerals, and electrolytes.

I know you have a duck, but treatments are generally the same.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Green poo could just be from eating grass.

But, now that I reread what you wrote, if he's not eating, it will need to be encouraged to eat or tube fed.

I would try making a mash of food and water - like a slurry to see if it will drink it's food.
If you do a dropper, you have to be very careful not to give too much so that it doesn't aspirate. Like a drop at a time on the very tip of its tongue.

Is it drinking at all?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Here is a thread regarding tube feeding a duck : https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tube-feeding-ducks-updated-5-7-2020.1211994/

If you do tube feed or even syringe, you want to make sure it doesn't get into the trachea, but off to the side. I've only placed a syringe of medicine in a chicken's mouth, so I don't have any experience with tube feeding.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Pics of how to syringe: Post in thread 'Opening and closing beak' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/opening-and-closing-beak.1595982/post-27128074

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Poultry cell has enough selenium and thiamine, but only I believe 60mg vitamin e. I have had success only having to use poultry cell when wry neck is caught right away. However, if it is more severe I would add 400iu vitamin e plus the poultry cell. I would direct dose with the syringe as suggested above to make sure your duckling is getting all of it.

 

[Newtothefarm]

Similar, but different. Nutri-drench is more of an emergency perk. Some use it for wry neck treatment, but I think poultry cell has more of what is needed. I don't know what the percentages needed are to cure wry neck without researching. But, I know some give poly-vi-sol vitamins. I've never treated wry neck, but I've read a lot about it.

This quote was in another thread from eggcessive who is very knowledgeable:



I know you have a duck, but treatments are generally the same.

Ah ok, good to know! Unfortunately the only farm store around closed at 9. So I changed making a mash of feed and water. The duckling ate a little but then started having a bad seizure. Since it stopped, I’ve just been giving it water with the nutri-drench, nutritional yeast, and electrolytes. Hopefully that’s ok to throw it all in together.

I ordered poultry cell and poly vi sol to have on hand—praying this doesn’t happen to any of the others. I’ll run to the store in the morning for poultry cell and will try that with a syringe. I’ll have to check out these videos and posts! It took me forever to get a little of the nutri-dense in its beak.

Thank you so much for all the advice and suggestions! I really appreciate it

 

[Newtothefarm]

Poultry cell has enough selenium and thiamine, but only I believe 60mg vitamin e. I have had success only having to use poultry cell when wry neck is caught right away. However, if it is more severe I would add 400iu vitamin e plus the poultry cell. I would direct dose with the syringe as suggested above to make sure your duckling is getting all of it.

Ohh interesting! Ok, I will pick up some vitamin E as well then. Would you recommend a particular brand?