Help! My 2 wk old ducklings are weak on their legs & dying?!?

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A couple of weeks ago we went out to the barn & found our 2 ducks had hatched out 15 ducklings. It was -25C outside. We set up a heat lamp but they didn't seem to use it. Needless to say a few died, so we brought them in the house. We were feeding them oatmeal & birdseed, & lots of water & they seemed to be doing fine. The last couple of days they seem to be going off their legs, & laying kinda with their feet up, but you can get them up and they seem fine again, but usually die fairly quickly. I have now bought a duck starter but am worried because the few we have left seem weak on their legs too. Does anyone have any suggestions??

-- Deb Affleck (sheldon.a@sk.sympatico.ca), April 02, 2002

Answers

Try putting niacin in their water. According to some book (I forget which one) ducks need niacin for their legs. Worked for mine last year.

-- BB (johnson337@hotmail.com), April 02, 2002.

Might try adding some mashed up boiled eggs.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), April 02, 2002.

Deb, you've got some good hints already, post your message where there are experts to help, including a link to a Poultry Vet. www.poultryconnection.com, click on General Waterfowl Forum and you will get some help there. Also, sounds like you might profit from a good book on raising ducks. " Storey's Guide to raising Ducks" is the best and cheapest out there. Amazon.com and ask for a used copy. As already mentioned above ducks need more niacin in their diet than chickens, they must have feed with NO ANTIBIOTICS, and they need a lot of greens snipped and added fresh daily to their water. Good luck with the little guys, I have my fingers crossed for you. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 02, 2002.

Unfortunately, I suspect diet in this case. A lady brought us a batch of crippled ducklings last year...the guy at the feed store had told her to just feed them cracked corn! Of course, that was inadequate, and they suffered from deficiencies. Maybe the duck starter will turn them around for you.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), April 03, 2002.

Weak legs and being unable or unwilling to walk is also a sign of hypothermia in ducks of any age. They really need to be kept warm. If you feel their bills and feet, and they are not warm as toast, then they're too cold....

-- V (WraitheLadyA@yahoo.com), April 03, 2002.


Thank you to all of your helpful replies - my ducklings seem to be doing fine now - seems like the starter was what really turned them around. They are growing like crazy now too. Thanks again!!

-- Deb Affleck (sheldon.a@sk.sympatico.ca), April 08, 2002.

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