Duckling Eating But Not Gaining Weight

[AltGirlfriend]

I have a Muscovy duckling that hatched 6 days ago on day 37. I first weighed it on day 2 and it was 1.3 oz, on day 3 it was 1.4 oz and has not gained or lost any weight or grown at all since. It is eating, drinking, pooping, peeping, preening and running around and seems otherwise healthy. It's been eating Manna Pro crumbles and Mazuri starter, added a little brewer's yeast, and I have been giving electrolytes and probiotic in the water. Is there something else I should try? What would cause this? I've raised about 30 ducks so far and never had this happen. Pictured is the little one on the right with its sibling who hatched about 36 hours before.

 

[WVduckchick]

Does seem odd, though if it’s eating, drinking, and pooping, I probably wouldn’t worry too much. Could be a slow grower, or just turn out to be a smaller duck. I can’t think of anything else to try, except maybe some extra vitamins? Like maybe some NutriDrench?

Are you giving them a little swim time? Sometimes swimming around will also reveal issues that might not be evident in the brooder.

 

[AltGirlfriend]

Does seem odd, though if it’s eating, drinking, and pooping, I probably wouldn’t worry too much. Could be a slow grower, or just turn out to be a smaller duck. I can’t think of anything else to try, except maybe some extra vitamins? Like maybe some NutriDrench?

Are you giving them a little swim time? Sometimes swimming around will also reveal issues that might not be evident in the brooder.

I did give a little Nutri dench the first day but I will try some more! It has had a swim, the only thing I noticed is it did kick its left leg a little more than the right but otherwise was behaving normally. I actually hatched 8 total (this was the last one to hatch) and this is the only one I have been able to hear peeping from across the house on a different floor level with all the doors shut! It's so odd!

 

[Lor]

It sure is a little thing compared to the other. Hopefully she will catch up.

 

[Miss Lydia]

From what you described it would sound like failure to thrive. But for it to be eating drinking pooping and running around that doesn't fit the bill.
With Brewers yeast you have to make sure it even has Niaicn in it. If it does it's 1 Tab per cup of feed given to them.
Sounds like your doing everything right as far as feed I'm not sure what else you can do
They are both adorable.
So funny about the loud peeping at least you know it has a healthy set of lungs. lol

 

[AltGirlfriend]

From what you described it would sound like failure to thrive. But for it to be eating drinking pooping and running around that doesn't fit the bill.
With Brewers yeast you have to make sure it even has Niaicn in it. If it does it's 1 Tab per cup of feed given to them.
Sounds like your doing everything right as far as feed I'm not sure what else you can do
They are both adorable.
So funny about the loud peeping at least you know it has a healthy set of lungs. lol

I know, it's crazy lol if it weren't still so small I would honestly think it's the healthiest of all 8 based on how active and loud it is. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing, though if it doesn't start catching up to it's siblings soon its gonna have to be my miniature house duck

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well that would be okay we had one almost 12 yrs ago. He is my big boy now [avatar]

 

[dreamthink]

How is the duckling now?

 

[AltGirlfriend]

How is the duckling now?

She's doing great! Pretty sure she's a female, still extremely small, and her left eye is a little sunken into her skull so I am thinking maybe she has a deformity that affected her growth, and she does sometimes have a slight limp on her right side but it does not affect her mobility at all. She's almost fully feathered, and about the same size as our 1 month old ducklings, and SUPER feisty! Here she is today with her hatchmates and dad! The first picture shows the other duckling from the original picture.

 

[dreamthink]

So cute! Glad she is doing ok. I have been feeding some wild ducklings and 1 out of 4 is about half the size of the others.