Baby duck can't walk, is it a defect

[Lilmoose]

hello everyone, first time posting. I have 18 runner duck, 3 or 9 weeks and 15 are 5 weeks old. 1 of the babies we noticed can not stay up with the flock when swimming or walking. The baby can swim, (though very slowly), but can't get out the pond to eat. Noticed when on land she cannot stand well and walks 3 or 4 steps and then sits down.
We have removed him from the flock cause they peck at him now. We moved her into the chicken enclosure with the baby chicks.
My question is......... Does she have a birth defect? She doesn't move much and will eat if food and water is right in front of her. She has a little pool we move her to so she can swim around a bit to keep up her strength. I guess I need to know if she will ever get better or not.

 

[PirateGirl]

Regarding the one having trouble walking...
Is it as big and otherwise as developed as the other ducks?
Does it eat and drink and poop normal?
In other words, aside from the problems walking, does it seem normal in every other way? If it does then I think it has a chance at getting stronger with some TLC and living a normal life. Leg problems are very common in ducklings. If this seems to be the only problem we'll get you some advice. If there is other symptoms going on, please give us the details to help you figure out if there is a bigger problem internally that maybe can't be solved.

 

[PirateGirl]

Also what kind of food do the ducklings have? Any supplements? Any treats?

 

[Ruralhideaway]

hello everyone, first time posting. I have 18 runner duck, 3 or 9 weeks and 15 are 5 weeks old. 1 of the babies we noticed can not stay up with the flock when swimming or walking. The baby can swim, (though very slowly), but can't get out the pond to eat. Noticed when on land she cannot stand well and walks 3 or 4 steps and then sits down.
We have removed him from the flock cause they peck at him now. We moved her into the chicken enclosure with the baby chicks.
My question is......... Does she have a birth defect? She doesn't move much and will eat if food and water is right in front of her. She has a little pool we move her to so she can swim around a bit to keep up her strength. I guess I need to know if she will ever get better or not.

Very often leg issues in waterfowl are niacin deficiency. So details about feed are really key to know.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Are you supplementing with any form of B3? niacin.

 

[CayugaJana]

Taking a couple steps and sitting down is normal behavior for a duckling who is niacin deficient. Especially larger breeds. Provided they haven’t injured their leg or have a staph infection on their feet. So checking legs and feet for injuries are very helpful. If there are no obvious signs of injury or scabbing, treating niacin deficiency is easy. If you are feeding a chick feed rather than a waterfowl feed, a niacin deficiency is more likely. Ducks have more than 2X the niacin requirement than other poultry. And the fact that only 1 or 2 are effected is common. Some need more than others and some just aren’t as good absorbing it.

Go to tractor supply and buy the b complex in the cattle vitamin section. Also buy a needle/syringe so you can suck out the vitamins. You don’t have to inject it, but it’s just so you can get the liquid out. Then squirt the b vitamin on their favorite treat. 1 mL for each bird a day. You can give it to just the 1 bird that can’t walk. But it won’t hurt to give it to all of them. It’s important to get the liquid and not the tablets. Then give it to him for a week.