Wry neck? Help please

[Fezziwig]

I just received 11 ducklings in the mail an hour ago. One of the ducklings is having problems lifting its head, and sometimes it's head is almost curled underneath it. I suspect this is wry neck, but I'm not knowledgeable about it. I've been told that Vitamin E and Selenium are the treatment, but how do I make sure this duckling gets that immediately? Crush it and mix with water?

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I had a duckling with it. Here is a link to that discussion which includes what I was told to do:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-hatchling-stargazing.1271257/
One easy thing to do is to feed the baby cooked egg yolks -it’s high in selenium.

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Hi there and I am sorry you have a poorly duckling.

We had this in our hatchlings this year - we had all sorts of problems getting supplements and even food at one point because of Covid.

We ended up crushing supplements (Vit A, C and E + Selenium) for humans into water (via my other halfs coffee bean grinder ), added some b complex and honey and dipped the tip of their bill every couple of hours.

In my experience, this can take more than a few days to resolve but is possible !

Keeping it all crossed for you and your little one. x

 

[Fezziwig]

Thank you for all the advice so far! Has anyone had experience with something like Sav-A-Chick? I can see that it has Vitamins A, D, & E, but no Selenium.

I also asked my wife to chop up some wild dandelion very fine because I read it contains Vitamin E (I'm at work until 4:30, and I'm eager to go buy some vitamins when finished).

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

I thnk there has been a lot of success with SAC for leg issues and weak ducklings.

I do believe its selenium and Vit E together that does it for wry neck.

Its very difficult for the ducklings with wry neck to feed and drink so its essential they get support with that for the next few days. Watch out for them being picked on by the others too.

I think its wonderful you are helping this little one.

 

[Fezziwig]

I thnk there has been a lot of success with SAC for leg issues and weak ducklings.

I do believe its selenium and Vit E together that does it for wry neck.

Its very difficult for the ducklings with wry neck to feed and drink so its essential they get support with that for the next few days. Watch out for them being picked on by the others too.

I think its wonderful you are helping this little one.

Do you think selenium could be crushed and mixed with the water? I'm having trouble getting the poor duckling to eat it, but it seems to be drinking a lot of water. I added the SAC to the water for Vitamin E, in addition to buying some Vitamin E gel capsules to try and mix with some crushed food to feed it.

 

[Ratchnick]

Selenium is easy to overdose so watch out for that.

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Do you think selenium could be crushed and mixed with the water? I'm having trouble getting the poor duckling to eat it, but it seems to be drinking a lot of water. I added the SAC to the water for Vitamin E, in addition to buying some Vitamin E gel capsules to try and mix with some crushed food to feed it.

Yes - either crush it between two spoons or pop it in a coffee bean grinder.

I found putting all vits in a small bottle with honey and water, then doing my best Tom Cruise impression from Cocktail was enough to get it broken down and mixed.

Good luck. X

 

[JacinLarkwell]

We replaced all available water with the infused water so they had to drink it. We didn't catch ours in time though,so it didn't work well. How old is the duckling do you know?

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

We replaced all available water with the infused water so they had to drink it. We didn't catch ours in time though,so it didn't work well. How old is the duckling do you know?

With wry neck or any kind of deformity, you may need to help the duckling drink.

I am sorry you lost yours.