Adult Duck Neck Issues and Falling Over

[Lilquacks21]

I have a Welsh Harlequins (8 months old) that has started to flip and sway her head back when drinking. Sometimes it gets to the point where her head is almost upside down on her back. Her head will be flung back, swaying it side to side, and walking backwards. When I lightly tap or push her head (or when she bumps into something) she “snaps” out of it. This has been happening for 2-3 weeks, and I have been supplementing with niacin (and occasionally brewers yeast as well), vitamin e, selenium, and a b complex. I am not sure how else to treat this? I have never had any prior problems with her. Today when she stands up to stretch and flap her wings she also falls over and lands on her back sometimes. Unfortunately I cannot figure out how to attach a video. We have a farm vet but they do not know much about ducks, and we do not have another bird/duck vet in the area.

 

[alinas2010]

Welcome to the site, sorry to hear about the issues she is having. And sorry you haven’t gotten a response yet. I don’t have any ducks myself, but let’s see if some knowledgeable duck people have advice. @Jenbirdee @ruthhope can you help?

 

[Jenbirdee]

If you upload a video to another site like YouTube or Vimeo, then you can post a link to it here.
One of my Welsh Harleys did something similar when she was young but just grew out of it
I’m not saying that will happen but it’s a possibility
what kind of niacin have you been giving her it should be from niacinamide and it needs to not be flush free or time release.
& What is her food diet?

 

[Lilquacks21]

If you upload a video to another site like YouTube or Vimeo, then you can post a link to it here.
One of my Welsh Harleys did something similar when she was young but just grew out of it
I’m not saying that will happen but it’s a possibility
what kind of niacin have you been giving her it should be from niacinamide and it needs to not be flush free or time release.
& What is her food diet?

All my ducks have been getting Kalmbach Duck and Goose. I have been supplementing her with brewers yeast and a niacin powder. All other ducks are fine and she seems to have improved as of the past few days, but when I checked on her today she wouldn’t stand up or walk and if she tried, she could only walk backwards with her head hanging back and fall over. She seems to be eating like normal, but struggles more when drinking. I have attached a few videos below

 

[Jenbirdee]

What a beautiful duck she is , poor sweetie
Does the niacin powder ingredients say niacinamide or something else?
And how many milligrams of niacin per serving does it have?
DurVet liquid bcomplex has 100 mg niacinamide per ml
Which is why many of us here use it and recommend it. It works very well and faster than many other supplements for niacin
The bottle says it’s injectable, but we give it orally in a little dish with some mealworms or other treat
Or I give it directly orally with a syringe (no needle) slid down to her right side of her tongue- past the trachea so as to not get any in the airway
If you choose to go that route, there is a link I can give you with very clear directions and pictures

I’m so glad all your other ducks are fine, but that does not necessarily mean that this one is getting all the proper nutrients for her self personally because each duck is an individual and their needs vary, some of them need more niacin or other nutrient than others do.

 

[Jenbirdee]

https://www.google.com/url?q=https:...kQFnoECCIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3mdwmr4Q7LCO-A2436Fco5.
Are these the dosages you are giving her the same as in this thread?

 

[Lilquacks21]

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/%F0%9F%A7%90-wondering-about-the-correct-doses-of-vitamins-for-treating-a-duckling-with-wry-neck-%F0%9F%90%A5.1585603/&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwia3tzu7a2LAxWXFlkFHSXCAbkQFnoECCIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3mdwmr4Q7LCO-A2436Fco5.
Are these the dosages you are giving her the same as in this thread?

What a beautiful duck she is , poor sweetie
Does the niacin powder ingredients say niacinamide or something else?
And how many milligrams of niacin per serving does it have?
DurVet liquid bcomplex has 100 mg niacinamide per ml
Which is why many of us here use it and recommend it. It works very well and faster than many other supplements for niacin
The bottle says it’s injectable, but we give it orally in a little dish with some mealworms or other treat
Or I give it directly orally with a syringe (no needle) slid down to her right side of her tongue- past the trachea so as to not get any in the airway
If you choose to go that route, there is a link I can give you with very clear directions and pictures

I’m so glad all your other ducks are fine, but that does not necessarily mean that this one is getting all the proper nutrients for her self personally because each duck is an individual and their needs vary, some of them need more niacin or other nutrient than others do.

I attached the niacin I am currently mixing in her water. I was doing 3/4 scoop, which may be a bit much. I can start lowering that amount if needed. The rest of the dosing is pretty accurate. I do have some durvet b vitamin, but it appears to be for goats/larger animals (image attached). Should I trying giving that to her instead of the other b complex I have been using? Not sure if this is the one people recommend and what the dosing would be if it is

 

[Jenbirdee]

I attached the niacin I am currently mixing in her water. I was doing 3/4 scoop, which may be a bit much. I can start lowering that amount if needed. The rest of the dosing is pretty accurate. I do have some durvet b vitamin, but it appears to be for goats/larger animals (image attached). Should I trying giving that to her instead of the other b complex I have been using? Not sure if this is the one people recommend and what the dosing would be if it is

Oh ok yes I also have that niacin too I bought it, but don’t use it The problem is you’re putting it in the water instead of giving it directly. In the water it dissipates and they don’t get their dosage.

DurVet B complex also says it’s for larger animals. It also says it’s for injection but many of us here give it orally to Ducks. It has 100 mg of niacin per one ML you make sure she gets that whole one ML every day either by pouring it over a treat that she loves & watch her get it all or give it directly orally. Here’s the link.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

And this is the Durvet

I’m not sure about the tube kind of b complex you have - I don’t know what the dosage would be because I can’t see the back of the label but here is the back of the liquid bottle. You can see 100 MG niacinamide per one ML.

 

[Jenbirdee]

I just looked at my powdered niacin. There’s 1000 mg per scoop. However, it is not niacinamide.
I’m pretty sure what you want is niacinamide
Here’s another older thread that has a lot of information
https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/21244645/
Especially page 3

 

[Jenbirdee]

Here’s another one and it’s about a welsh Harley that is an adult duck like yours
Thread 'Help, Adult duck developed wry neck??'https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-adult-duck-developed-wry-neck.1568250/