Young Duck Lethargic and Flopping Over

[jasonmarshall]

Hi Everyone,

When I checked my ducks this evening I have one duckling (5 weeks old) that can't hold himself up. He falls asleep trying to drink water. I held him up so he could drink and 15 minutes later when I checked on him he was flipped completely on his back and unable to stand up or open his eyes. I have several other ducklings that are all behaving normal it is just this one and happened within hours.

His breast feels warmer than the other ducks and he is taking fast big breathes. He has a clear liquid discharging from his nostrils.

Please let me know if you have any advice for how to save him. Thank you

 

[Crazy Maizie]

What feed is the duckling on? Does it have access to fresh water? Is it eating at all?
Do you have it on any supplements?

 

[jasonmarshall]

What feed is the duckling on? Does it have access to fresh water? Is it eating at all?
Do you have it on any supplements?

Hi Thank you for the help. It is on a grower pellet. I have attached a picture. Same stuff I have fed my previous batches of ducklings. I have a waterer that I replace water in twice a day. It wouldn't eat when I tried to get it to because it just kept closing its eyes and flopping over.

Not on any supplements

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Maybe try some nutri-drench or vitamin b complex. It might just need a boost.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Also, you could try wetting the feed and feeding it some mash. Or giving some scrambled egg for nutrition.

 

[jasonmarshall]

Thank you I will try this

 

[jasonmarshall]

Also, you could try wetting the feed and feeding it some mash. Or giving some scrambled egg for nutrition.

Hi I lost that duckling last night but just found another one start doing the same thing. I am on my way to the Co-op to grab some vitamin b or nutri-drench but wanted to share a video of this one in case there is something more. Thank you

 

[RosemaryDuck]

Hi I lost that duckling last night but just found another one start doing the same thing. I am on my way to the Co-op to grab some vitamin b or nutri-drench but wanted to share a video of this one in case there is something more. Thank you

Are the ducklings Pekins? Pekins need a much higher percentage of niacin while they're growing and if they don't get it it can cause some pretty serious issues.

@Isaac 0
@Miss Lydia Any ideas?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope you pick up the Liquid B complex. Tiny drops just inside the bill or dripped along the bill, never down the throat too easy to aspirate. It may take a while but if you can get your duckling to take at least 1 ml.
Where's the video?
what is the bedding your using? where are they kept? feed fresh checked for mold?
since there is more than one any chance they got into something toxic?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Hi I lost that duckling last night but just found another one start doing the same thing. I am on my way to the Co-op to grab some vitamin b or nutri-drench but wanted to share a video of this one in case there is something more. Thank you

Sorry to hear that. Any chance it could be coccidiosis? It's been a really wet season here and I know others have had issues with high loads. If you suspect that, all would need treated with corid. Also Miss Lydia added great suggestions. Along with that could it be botulism? I'm not sure what symptoms are for ducklings with botulism, but something to think about since it is happening quickly. Toxins and coccidiosis can happen fast.
You can always treat with corid, it won't hurt.