Raising Baby Ducks from Tractor Supply. HELP!!

[RaisingDucks2020]

I'm raising baby ducklings for the first time... my one pekin duckling sits down an awful lot and its leg turns in at times and other times it looks normal... looks like he or she even has a little trouble walking too.. I noticed this from the day i got them... I bought medicated food thinking maybe its lacking something? I've been doing a lot of reading. What are your thoughts? Thanks!

 

[CoriM]

Yes, looks like she's pigeon-toed. They don't need medicated feed, they need more niacin. If you can get a food specific to ducklings that is best. Chickens don't need the same amounts of niacin. Since your duckling is already showing signs of problems you also need to dose them with liquid vitamin B complex as soon as possible - get it at Tractor Supply, your local feed store, or Amazon - ASAP. This can do wonders for strengthening their legs. Pekins especially grow faster than their bodies can keep up with, since they are bred to be harvested at 8 weeks. They need more niacin than feed can give them. There are lots of recent threads on BYC from people facing similar issues with their ducklings. I would just say that the faster you act to get it corrected, the more chance your babies will have at a good life!

 

[Isaac 0]

I agree it does look as if she is suffering from a B3 deficiency, I'd recommend on getting Cattle B Injectable Durvet Brand as soon as possible and start giving her 1ml a day over treats or orally until symptoms improve. To prevent this in your other duckling's I suggest adding a niacin supplement to their diets such as brewers yeast, nutritional yeast, poultry vitamin or B complex and maybe switching to a feed that is more formulated for ducks like Purina Rasier Feed or All flock and of course Duck feed.

This is the brand you want-

 

[RaisingDucks2020]

Yes, looks like she's pigeon-toed. They don't need medicated feed, they need more niacin. If you can get a food specific to ducklings that is best. Chickens don't need the same amounts of niacin. Since your duckling is already showing signs of problems you also need to dose them with liquid vitamin B complex as soon as possible - get it at Tractor Supply, your local feed store, or Amazon - ASAP. This can do wonders for strengthening their legs. Pekins especially grow faster than their bodies can keep up with, since they are bred to be harvested at 8 weeks. They need more niacin than feed can give them. There are lots of recent threads on BYC from people facing similar issues with their ducklings. I would just say that the faster you act to get it corrected, the more chance your babies will have at a good life!

Thank you so much for replying, I'll be trying this!

 

[RaisingDucks2020]

I agree it does look as if she is suffering from a B3 deficiency, I'd recommend on getting Cattle B Injectable Durvet Brand as soon as possible and start giving her 1ml a day over treats or orally until symptoms improve. To prevent this in your other duckling's I suggest adding a niacin supplement to their diets such as brewers yeast, nutritional yeast, poultry vitamin or B complex and maybe switching to a feed that is more formulated for ducks like Purina Rasier Feed or All flock and of course Duck feed.

This is the brand you want-


View attachment 2093381

Thank you for replying! I'll try this, hopefully it works!

 

[Jackanddianesmom]

I agree it does look as if she is suffering from a B3 deficiency, I'd recommend on getting Cattle B Injectable Durvet Brand as soon as possible and start giving her 1ml a day over treats or orally until symptoms improve. To prevent this in your other duckling's I suggest adding a niacin supplement to their diets such as brewers yeast, nutritional yeast, poultry vitamin or B complex and maybe switching to a feed that is more formulated for ducks like Purina Rasier Feed or All flock and of course Duck feed.

This is the brand you want-


View attachment 2093381

I tried this on my little one who was looking VERY bad and it helped within a day, I dont know much about ducks I know this definitely helped!!! I also used the poultry cell in their water too!

 

[Isaac 0]

I tried this on my little one who was looking VERY bad and it helped within a day, I dont know much about ducks I know this definitely helped!!! I also used the poultry cell in their water too!

That's awesome!

 

[RaisingDucks2020]

UPDATE: the duckling seems to be getting a little worse. We went to tractor supply and told them what was wrong showed pictures etc. They gave us 2 different vitamins for the water. I keep getting told itll eventually maybe grow out of it or itll just forever have a limp. I feel so helpless with this little guy ...ugh

 

[CoriM]

Is she getting the proper dose of vitamin B complex everyday? Don't let up on that - she can take it for the next couple months. It may still help.

 

[Isaac 0]

UPDATE: the duckling seems to be getting a little worse. We went to tractor supply and told them what was wrong showed pictures etc. They gave us 2 different vitamins for the water. I keep getting told itll eventually maybe grow out of it or itll just forever have a limp. I feel so helpless with this little guy ...ugh

It may take a few weeks to see a full recovery. Keeping giving her the B.