Rescue duck advice

[Kate_]

Hi there,
I have a 4 week old rescue Mallard (found chasing our rooster around one evening) it is a solo duckling unfortunately but I spend 23/7 with it so hopefully it's not depressed.

Recently in the past 2/3 days it's became less energetic, sitting in its bed a lot, sleeping, not very chirpy anymore so I'm just wondering is this a part of it growing up or is something wrong?

I've been feeding it Topflite Lucky Duck feed although it's not very interested in it, along with mealworms, grapes, frozen peas, slaw mix and other vegetables I happen to have.
I am wondering if maybe it's a Niacin deficiency since it doesn't seem interested in it's actual feed so I have given it nutritional yeast in a bit of water it's been drinking the past day.

Is there something more I could be doing here?

 

[chickachicka12345]

I would slowly start to feed it Dumor brand. also probably get it a friend about the same age.

 

[Kate_]

I would slowly start to feed it Dumor brand. also probably get it a friend about the same

Sorry, I should've mentioned I am in NZ so those brands aren't available, also live very rural so haven't been able to find a second Mallard and not close to a rescue.

I am home all but an hour a day and he does usually spend a lot of time digging through mud with chickens in the backyard, following me to feed out all our other animals, swimming, foraging, napping with me it hasn't seemed depressed and been very energetic up till a couple days ago

 

[chickachicka12345]

you should buy it a friend about the same age

 

[Yardmom]

Is the food you mentioned specifically for young ducklings? It is probably a good idea to keep giving extra niacin either way just to make sure. If you can't find another duckling it will be OK with other poultry for now. If it is a hen it can stay with the chickens. If it turns out to be a drake, it will need to be separated.

 

[Kate_]

Is the food you mentioned specifically for young ducklings? It is probably a good idea to keep giving extra niacin either way just to make sure. If you can't find another duckling it will be OK with other poultry for now. If it is a hen it can stay with the chickens. If it turns out to be a drake, it will need to be separated.

It's not, just a general duck feed (hard to find a variety, there was ONE chick feed for ducks I could find but it's just come back in stock and I think by the time the xmas/rural delivery happens it won't need the extra protein) I was adding mealworms into his pool which it enjoys to make up the protein and blending the seed into a crumble to make it an easier eat but it's hardly interested, does really enjoys fresh produce but I do fear it isn't enough nutrition. I do have an unmedicated chick feed I can try and add Niacin to see if it enjoys that better.

Early vent testing suggests a female, but can be easily separated from chooks if it turns out to be a Drake. We live by a lot of water/rivers/lakes/ponds so I'm hoping when it finds its wings it can make some sort of duck friends.

 

[ruthhope]

It does sound lije a nutritional issue and not a lonely duck issue. S/he is ok following you around and interacting with your chooks. Do you have a wading pool for swimming?

Ducklings need more protein and niacin than chicks. You might increase the protein in the diet using dog food and or scrambled egg but you will have to supplement with nutritional yeast to provide more niacin.

You do not need to get another mallard -- any domestic duckling except muscovy, of the same age, will be fine as mallard derived ducks get on together

 

[Yardmom]

Do you know the protein percentage on the chick starter? If it is higher than the duck food, it may be a better choice.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Also try to make a mash out of the feed by adding water to it. My ducks all prefer it this way and it's easier to eat.

I would still order that other food you mentioned.

 

[Kate_]

It does sound lije a nutritional issue and not a lonely duck issue. S/he is ok following you around and interacting with your chooks. Do you have a wading pool for swimming?

Ducklings need more protein and niacin than chicks. You might increase the protein in the diet using dog food and or scrambled egg but you will have to supplement with nutritional yeast to provide more niacin.

You do not need to get another mallard -- any domestic duckling except muscovy, of the same age, will be fine as mallard derived ducks get on together

Yup it follows me everywhere I go, around to feed all my other animals and through the house doing chores.
It does just exist with my chooks, duck doesn't mind them at all, my chooks are a little weary of it but they're not aggressive and they do forage together. Also yes on the pool! The one thing I knew about ducks before research was water, water, water so it has a kiddy pool it loves to swim in where I put his mealworms to eat.

I have tried a cat food and eggs and it wasn't interested at all but I will keep trying, it does seem to like the chick grower with nutritional yeast I made up last night a lot more so that is a start. Although looking now the Chick Grower is 16% protein compared to the previous food which is 16.5%