emilyanderson
In the Brooder
I have had a very bad run with my poor Cayuga Ducklings, so I want to be sure before giving them anything I'm not certain will help or worse, hurt them.
Being in Australia, its incredibly difficult to find any of the specific supplement brands often brought up here for Ducks. So I was hoping for some people here with experience to look over this multi vitamin supplement before I give any to my ducklings.
For backstory, I had 6 Cayuga ducklings hatch (full assist) and despite 3 having splay leg and one of the three also having wry neck, they all bounced back pretty well. I treated the splay leg and wry neck with vet tape splinting, crushed Niacinamde tablets and Vitamin E capsules in water.
They have all been on Laucke Duck and water foul starter crumbles from day one, which should have enough vitamins in it. I have been adding brewers yeast from day one aswell ontop of their feed.
However, cut to last week, I stupidly gave them a few TBS of oyster shell fine grit, as it was the only fine "grit" labelled as such in Australia that I could find. I had given the same oyster shell to them on day one, not knowing they didnt need it whilst on feed only (they have only been out in the garden a few times with supervision). So I didn't realise they would eat the entire thing one afternoon randomly a few days after I put it in their brooder.
Over a few days I lost three of the ducklings in a horrible way. The three remaining all had impacted crops from the oyster shell, but with around the clock care and coconut oil plus electrolytes, they recovered and their crops are pretty much back to normal size.
However, one of the three started falling forward due to having the biggest crop and stopped walking as much. Overnight one day last week, they stopped standing all together. I was sure they were going to pass away when this happened, but I stayed with them around the clock the past few days and have been giving them food and water every 1-2 hours. Their appetite has improved considerably.
I have continued with brewers yeast sprinkled on their food, vitamin B3 tablets mixed in water and electrolytes alternated with fresh water. However, they still have not improved with walking.
I have Ceva Vitamin B complex injection solution on the way, which someone else here recommended to another person from Australia as a slightly lower dose version of the injection solution in the states. I intend to give it to them orally and see if that works better.
I have checked for slipped tendons but can't really see anything structually wrong with their legs. They can move both legs but not very strongly. I assume being sick and reduced intake is likely the cause despite supplementation. This particular duckling leans to one side and one leg is curling under. I have had their legs in a vet tape splint/hobble since they started having trouble walking, but it seems to be making the curling under worse, so I removed it today.
Just to cover all bases, I found this Vetsense Avi-Vital supplement for poultry. However, I am unsure if it is safe for ducks or if it will interact with the supplements I am already providing.
Can anyone advise me if I should give them this supplement?
If so, do I keep on with the brewers yeast and Vitamin B3?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am doing my best, but am at a loss.
Being in Australia, its incredibly difficult to find any of the specific supplement brands often brought up here for Ducks. So I was hoping for some people here with experience to look over this multi vitamin supplement before I give any to my ducklings.
For backstory, I had 6 Cayuga ducklings hatch (full assist) and despite 3 having splay leg and one of the three also having wry neck, they all bounced back pretty well. I treated the splay leg and wry neck with vet tape splinting, crushed Niacinamde tablets and Vitamin E capsules in water.
They have all been on Laucke Duck and water foul starter crumbles from day one, which should have enough vitamins in it. I have been adding brewers yeast from day one aswell ontop of their feed.
However, cut to last week, I stupidly gave them a few TBS of oyster shell fine grit, as it was the only fine "grit" labelled as such in Australia that I could find. I had given the same oyster shell to them on day one, not knowing they didnt need it whilst on feed only (they have only been out in the garden a few times with supervision). So I didn't realise they would eat the entire thing one afternoon randomly a few days after I put it in their brooder.
Over a few days I lost three of the ducklings in a horrible way. The three remaining all had impacted crops from the oyster shell, but with around the clock care and coconut oil plus electrolytes, they recovered and their crops are pretty much back to normal size.
However, one of the three started falling forward due to having the biggest crop and stopped walking as much. Overnight one day last week, they stopped standing all together. I was sure they were going to pass away when this happened, but I stayed with them around the clock the past few days and have been giving them food and water every 1-2 hours. Their appetite has improved considerably.
I have continued with brewers yeast sprinkled on their food, vitamin B3 tablets mixed in water and electrolytes alternated with fresh water. However, they still have not improved with walking.
I have Ceva Vitamin B complex injection solution on the way, which someone else here recommended to another person from Australia as a slightly lower dose version of the injection solution in the states. I intend to give it to them orally and see if that works better.
I have checked for slipped tendons but can't really see anything structually wrong with their legs. They can move both legs but not very strongly. I assume being sick and reduced intake is likely the cause despite supplementation. This particular duckling leans to one side and one leg is curling under. I have had their legs in a vet tape splint/hobble since they started having trouble walking, but it seems to be making the curling under worse, so I removed it today.
Just to cover all bases, I found this Vetsense Avi-Vital supplement for poultry. However, I am unsure if it is safe for ducks or if it will interact with the supplements I am already providing.
Can anyone advise me if I should give them this supplement?
If so, do I keep on with the brewers yeast and Vitamin B3?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am doing my best, but am at a loss.
