Duck not walking will he recover? What else can I do?

[Catchick123]

Hello, my 3 week white Campbell duck can’t walk I think he’s always been a bit wobbly but I didn’t notice quick enough and last few days he seems to be getting worse and barely stands now. He’s eating and drinking as I’m hand feeding him, I’m pretty sure Its niacin defiency but I’ve been giving them nutritional yeast since day one, I’ve up there dosage and giving him peas etc.

Will he get better how long does it take to get better?

I feel so sorry for him he’s literally the sweetest duck!

Is there anything else I can do?

 

[Weeg]

What exactly are you feeding him? What food and how much nutrition yeast? He looks like he might be a Pekin, not a Khaki. Perkins were originally built to be meat ducks, so they need more niacin that most duck breeds. Today they are popular pets, but they do require more niacin than others.
I would try a Vitamin B complex, I am 90% sure that can be used for niacin deficiencies. Start feeding that and hopefully he will get better soon.

 

[Weeg]

Also, peas make a good treat for ducklings, but that looks like a lot of peas in the photo. I would reduce that about great, also because it can dilute the nutrients in the feed. Might be contributing to niacin deficiency. Cut them out for now, and you can start feeding them again in treat qualities after he gets better? Thats about 1 tbsp per adult bird per day. Maybe about a tsp for a young bird.

 

[Catchick123]

Ok thanks. The peas were for two ducks but I’ve only just started giving them to them to increase the niacin in a panic to get as much into him as poss!

 

[Catchick123]

What exactly are you feeding him? What food and how much nutrition yeast? He looks like he might be a Pekin, not a Khaki. Perkins were originally built to be meat ducks, so they need more niacin that most duck breeds. Today they are popular pets, but they do require more niacin than others.
I would try a Vitamin B complex, I am 90% sure that can be used for niacin deficiencies. Start feeding that and hopefully he will get better soon.

I’m feeding them chick crumb with nutritional yeast

 

[ruthhope]

Ok thanks. The peas were for two ducks but I’ve only just started giving them to them to increase the niacin in a panic to get as much into him as poss!

You should immediately try vitamin B complex -- 1ml a day soaked into a treat.

At that young age, 2 peas hand fed would be a big treat for a little duckling.

If you have dried mealworms, soak the Vit B complex into 3 or 4 mealworms -- that will also be a big treat -- to make sure the duckling gets enough.

 

[ruthhope]

I’m feeding them chick crumb with nutritional yeast

Edited to correct error in original

If you are using a tablespoon nutritional yeast per cup of crumbs, that would probably be adequate for most ducklings but may not be for pekin ducklings. Also, I have seen some nutritional yeast meant for human consumption that does not mention niacin in the composition chart. Be sure that yours does

 

[BelovedBirds]

If you are using a cup nutritional yeast per cup of crumbs, that would probably be adequate for most ducklings but may not be for pekin ducklings. Also, I have seen some nutritional yeast meant for human consumption that does not mention niacin in the composition chart. Be sure that yours does

do you mean a tbsp per cup?

 

[BelovedBirds]

I’m feeding them chick crumb with nutritional yeast

make sure you feed 1tbsp to one cup of crumb, and start the B complex asap. If you can't get it where you are, let us know and we can make other suggestions-but the B complex is your best bet!

 

[Catchick123]

If you are using a cup nutritional yeast per cup of crumbs, that would probably be adequate for most ducklings but may not be for pekin ducklings. Also, I have seen some nutritional yeast meant for human consumption that does not mention niacin in the composition chart. Be sure that yours does

Oh that’s a good point I’d better check!