Duck is laying it’s head on it’s chest

Its_Bri01

In the Brooder
Apr 5, 2022
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Hello! I am new duck owner so I can take all the help I can get. I recently bought 3 ducklings about 2 weeks ago. They have been doing great. For the past couple of days , I noticed one of them will not extend its neck. It just sits its head on its chest. When I move the neck, he doesn’t seem to be in pain, but it is very stiff and usually won’t go too far until he puts its back down to his chest. Other than his neck, he drinks and eats good. Another issue I noticed was his breathing is a little bit heavier. That might be from his neck being held down to his chest. His head doesn’t look upward, he looks straight in front of him. He walks fine, but he is not as active as the others. He also did not suffer any injuries that I am aware of.Any advice on what it might be and anything I can do to help it would be great considering I do not have a vet close by that specializes in birds. Thank you!
 
My white layer held her neck like that, walked the same. She ate and drank just fine. She suffered a dog bite, wouldn’t be able to tell the wound was there if I had not held her, blood streaming down my arms.
She lived and layed just fine, when back to normal in a month.
Any chance yours jumped from too high a place? Got his head stuck in the feeder/waterer and sprained it? Could have ran into a brooder wall while doing the “happy circles” (neck extended run swimming around the brooder)?
 
Hello! I am new duck owner so I can take all the help I can get. I recently bought 3 ducklings about 2 weeks ago. They have been doing great. For the past couple of days , I noticed one of them will not extend its neck. It just sits its head on its chest. When I move the neck, he doesn’t seem to be in pain, but it is very stiff and usually won’t go too far until he puts its back down to his chest. Other than his neck, he drinks and eats good. Another issue I noticed was his breathing is a little bit heavier. That might be from his neck being held down to his chest. His head doesn’t look upward, he looks straight in front of him. He walks fine, but he is not as active as the others. He also did not suffer any injuries that I am aware of.Any advice on what it might be and anything I can do to help it would be great considering I do not have a vet close by that specializes in birds. Thank you!
What kind of feed is he on and have you added brewers yeast or nutritional yeast for extra niacin
 
Hi @Its_Bri01
Welcome to BYC!

Are you able to share a video which shows the behavior with us?
Can you post a picture with the setup of how you keep your little ducklings?
I am
Hi @Its_Bri01
Welcome to BYC!

Are you able to share a video which shows the behavior with us?
Can you post a picture with the setup of how you keep your little ducklings?
I am at work right now but I can get them for you when I get back home. But basically they have a confine
Hi @Its_Bri01
Welcome to BYC!

Are you able to share a video which shows the behavior with us?
Can you post a picture with the setup of how you keep your little ducklings?
I am at work right now but I can get one when I get back home. But basically they are in a confined area in the house because I am scared to put them outside in their coop right now because of them still being young.
 
My white layer held her neck like that, walked the same. She ate and drank just fine. She suffered a dog bite, wouldn’t be able to tell the wound was there if I had not held her, blood streaming down my arms.
She lived and layed just fine, when back to normal in a month.
Any chance yours jumped from too high a place? Got his head stuck in the feeder/waterer and sprained it? Could have ran into a brooder wall while doing the “happy circles” (neck extended run swimming around the brooder)?
Honestly I am not sure. As far as I am aware, I do not think so. He definitely couldn’t have jumped from a too high area. If anything, maybe he ran into a brooder wall. He doesn’t seem like he is in pain when I pick him up. I also tried to look at his neck and move it around , but I couldn’t see any visible injury nor was he verbally in pain. How did you help yours get better ?
 
Honestly they are on some crumb feed that the place recommended. I did not add any of that in but now that you mention , I Probbaly should. Do you have a recommendation of the brand I can use ?
I got mine from amazon. I’m in Canada so I’m not sure what you can get there but here is a picture of the kind I buy
 

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