HELP!!!

Hi Everyone,

I am new to raising poultry and have two 8 week old muscovy ducks. While one duck seems to have developed normally the other is significantly smaller. It still maintains part of its down feathers along its tail and has what I refer to as 'chicken wings'. However, what worries me the most is its legs.

Since the moment we bought it from the pet shop it has had problems with walking. It does not place each foot in front of the other when it is moving instead they are at least 6cm apart and it does not look comfortable. It cannot stand properly without the legs bending backwards and now the feet are starting to curl in.

The duck has never lacked sufficient food and water but I have been reading on BYC that adding 'niacin' or 'brewer's yeast' may help in his development and legs.

Any advice would be much appreciated as it makes me sad knowing that he does not have the same quality of life as the other duck.

Regards,

Pussy Willow

This sounds like what happened to my duckling. Mine had the same problem but it didn't get to progress this far. I do think you should add niacin of brewers yeast to that ducklings food ASAP! I don't know how much this will help seeing as it's gone on for so long, I got it with mine at around three weeks old. His legs starting trying to turn in and I got worried the second I noticed it, even though we gave him the niacin his legs never straightened but it stopped before it got bad. You may need some sort of cast to fix you duck's legs I've seen people do this.

Something like this that makes the ducks legs straighten. For mine I just bought the niacin supplement capsules filled with powder for people and opened them and sprinkled a little bit into his food. I feed mine a water mush from the dry food which helped get the niacin in him.

@Pussy Willow please follow Virus's advice - plain niacin - just plain niacin, or Super B Complex capsules, added to their water at 150 mg of B3/niacin per gallon of drinking water, do that for at least 8 weeks.

You may be able to help the little one yet.

You could also try brewer's yeast. Brewer's, not baking, not winemaking. Health food stores, supplement stores, some drugstores and big box stores carry it - call ahead. One tablespoon per cup of food, for at least 8 weeks.

It won't hurt the other one to have it.

Thank you @Amiga and @Virus .

I have found it hard to get any sound or consistent advice over the internet. I had taken the mentioned duck (Bukowski) for a check-up when it was about one week old. All I was told to do at the time was move his legs around so the muscles would strengthen. The vet said that he may have a displaced pelvis from being sat on by his mother.

I feel a little guilty as I love my ducks and really want them to have the best life possible. I will organise another trip to the vet and have already started on feeding it niacin.

Once again I want to thank you both very much for your advice.

Regards,

Pussy Willow

Please don't feel too bad, @Pussy Willow - duck care is a STEEP learning curve. I was not fit company for humans for oh, months. Just enjoy every day with them, and keep learning and trying new things. I feel my ducks respond to my concern for them. They are very personable.

@Amiga the reason I said I felt guilty was because I chose to look at the duck as 'lazy' rather than accept that it had a problem with its legs. I will always have a greater love for my animals than I do for humans so I was a little emotional at the time I wrote that post.

The word 'duck' was never a part of my vocabulary so I never gave thought to owning them. Now that I am raising two of the 'little dragons' (as I call them) I have become a woman possessed. I will talk about their quirks and perks to anybody who will listen.

I bought nutritional yeast from the health food store and have put it in his food as you recommended. Bukowski seems to like the taste which, is a good thing but I understand that I cannot expect to see results immediately. What results should I expect to see over the next eight weeks? And if this does not work as expected, what would be the next step in taking care of this problem?

Both ducks are fenced into the grassy area of our backyard and the lawns are mowed quite regularly. Our other duck can move well across this surface but Bukowski has trouble and prefers to sit. I have noticed that when he is put in the concreted area of our yard he is much more active but I heard this is bad for them? Is there anything I can do in regard to changing the surface Bukowski walks on?

P.s I have attached a photo to show you my little dragons.

Regards,

Pussy Willow

Such cuties

Concrete can rough up their feet and cause bumblefoot. You are right to be concerned. Aside from a washable thin blanket I cannot think of an alternative surface.

I am still completely head over heels in love with my ducks.

Some see improvement in strength and balance within a week - and often issues completely disappear. Each case is unique.

Can you put some rubber mats over the concrete area? That way it will still be nice and flat (not "trippy" like grass or straw can be for a duck with leg problems). Mats will also make it soft and smooth so as to not cause bumblefoot. Concrete is very hard and rough and is not good for ducks to walk on. You can use large horse stall rubber mats, or even those foam rubber play mats they make for children (much cheaper, but also much smaller; guess it depends how big the concrete area is). That's what I use on top of a well cover that is in one of my duck yards. The ducks loved standing on it, so I cut a foam rubber play mat into a circle that fits nicely over the well cover. Works like a charm.

Rubber mats sound like a good idea. I would just add that you should make sure they are not too smooth so there is good traction. I don't know what you have for a water source but you might try a warm bath. It might be a little easier for your duck to swim so that may help keep muscles in working condition.

Your picture looks just like many other niacin deficiency pictures I've seen so I agree that is the likely problem. I think you need to prepare yourself for the possibility that the problem won't be solved by giving niacin now (but you should keep giving it). Your duck may never be "normal." I'm not saying this to make you feel bad but just want you to to be ready for all the possible outcomes. I wish you and your little one lots of luck.

Thank you for the advice everyone. I have already started to see some progress. Bukowski is much more active and seems to be walking more confidently and comfortably.

They have both outgrown their pool (as they grow so quickly) but I am on the lookout for a new pond. In the mean time I have been giving Buk baths and have changed his diet, introducing the traditional yeast. I have also been spending more time with Buk and believe all of these things have helped immensely. Buk is a much happier duck.

p.s I have been hearing my other duck, Edgar making honking noises. I have a boy!