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Post by monaro28 on Jan 12, 2010 11:43:03 GMT 8
Ive had a call from someone I sold a duckling to so I dont have much info but I sold them 3 ducklings and she said for the past day one of them hasnt beeen eating, but has been drinking still. She thinks it looks a bit smaller than the others too. She said the others eat but the little one just watches, even when she spies on it so it doesnt see her. She said it otherwise looks healthy? All I could think to suggest is to try offering wheat, maize, lettuce and live little crickets? Any other ideas or has this happened to anyone else? Thanks heaps, Kelly
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Post by Duck Diva on Jan 12, 2010 12:44:32 GMT 8
Hi Kelly, I dont know whats wrong, but I would be feeding it ricketts diet by hand. roll this mix into small balls and place in the ducklings mouth. Also giving it some electrolytes in water may help. You can buy the powder in a sachet from the vet for a few dollars or make your own. Electrolytes – Home made
1 cup water * 2 tsp sugar * 1/8 tsp salt * 1/8 tsp baking soda * (this formula gives needed electrolytes & some sugar for energy)
Combine all ingredients and warm slightly.
Rickets diet consists of
2 to 4 tablespoons of rolled oats or Rice Baby Cereal (easily digested) 2 tablespoons of yoghurt, NOT THE ONE WITH FRUIT OR SUGAR IN IT, very important.. find the one with the active bacillus 2 tablespoons of GRATED not chopped, apple and carrot 1 small teaspoon of honey 1 boild egg yolk.. not the white.. only the yolk
If you have multi vitamin powder.. put a few grains into the mix... not grams .. grains.. this is about 5 to 8 grains.. a little goes a long way
Make this into a crumbly mixture..not wet and soggy.. the bird must still be able to eat it by picking it up in her beak
Feed for 3 days up to 3 weeks.. depending on the birds progress..
Most birds take around 7 to 9 days on this diet to get back to normal
It is possible this one is jsut weaker than the others for some reason and it may catch up again. But I guess your customer needs to be prepared for the worst. Some just dont pull through. Good luck and keep us posted. Cheers, Wendy
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Post by rap on Jan 12, 2010 14:06:23 GMT 8
Did you ask them what food they were offering the baby ducks. It should be chick or duck crumble with clean water always available. Are the crumbs to big?Could try some finely chopped up boiled egg.
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Post by luv4ducks on Jan 12, 2010 14:11:57 GMT 8
Hi Kelly, What Wendy has suggested is great advice, I would also feed it the rickets diet, if the buyer is desperate and maybe doesn't have time to race to the shop for the required ingredients, if she places 1 weetbix in a bowl and poor warm water small amounts at a time until the weetbix won't hold anymore water, then mash up the weetbix and feed to the duckling. It would be best to seperate this one from the others just for this particular feed just to ensure that he is eating it. I've never seen a duckling yet that won't woof down soggy weetbix, so fingers crossed
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Post by monaro28 on Jan 12, 2010 15:44:58 GMT 8
Thanks heaps guys, I gave her duck starter crumble which she was still feeding them as far as I know, I will pass on all your advice thanks
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Post by rap on Jan 12, 2010 17:50:45 GMT 8
I would not feed baby ducks weetbix bread or any other type of cereals. They contain high amounts of salt and i have found that it can cause fits or kill them.
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Post by luv4ducks on Jan 13, 2010 13:37:16 GMT 8
I would not feed baby ducks weetbix bread or any other type of cereals. They contain high amounts of salt and i have found that it can cause fits or kill them. I didn't know that, I've fed it to my birds in the past without a problem, but now I think I'll find a safer alternative, I'd rather be safe than sorry!! Thanks for that info rap
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