My duck got hit by a board, not walking help please

[ducky mommy HU]

Hi everyone, I have a 6 week old mallard duckling she is in my large coop with 11 other ducks. I am a nurse in a local ER but I have no idea what to do for my baby. It is such a windy day at my house in Idaho and when I went into the coop to check my ducks at around 1pm when I saw a heavy board on top of my baby it's probably 4 lbs. I pulled her out and tried to see if she could walk she can't walk or stand up with out falling over. I brought her inside gave her a warm bath hoping it would help with soar muscles she is warm dry and gulls seems to be acting normal but not walking still any ideas?
Does she just need time it doesn't feel like any bones are dislocated or broken but hard to see with out an x-ray

 

[Eggcessive]

She may have injured her neck or head, or sprained a leg. I would keep her penned in a cage for a bit where you can monitor if she is eating, drinking, etc, and help her rest the legs. Hopefully, if it is an injury to her head or back, the swelling with go down in a couple of days. Check for swelling and bruising or displacement of both legs. I'm not familiar with ducks, but with chickens, a broken bone usually is pretty noticeable. You should post on the duck thread also for more responses: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks

 

[Amiga]

I agree with Eggcessive on the rest and watching her. I actually might try putting her in lukewarm water deep enough to float in, for a few minutes, to see how she moves. Don't leave her alone, if she cannot move she could drown - just see what she is capable of.

Epsom salt is very helpful for injuries - be careful because it is also a laxative. But in a compress, it can help heal sprains and strains.

I would also give her poultry vitamins with electrolytes just for a boost.

Something else I suggest is that you post this over on the Duck Forum, where there are many helpful, experienced duck people.

 

[ducky mommy HU]

Thanks so much for the advice I put her in my bathtub and she seems to be doing so much better not walking still but she is crawling around I'm gonna try the Epsom salt very good advice thanks again