Pekins going bow legged

Greetings,

This is my first "help" thread. I have 2 pekin ducklings and 4 Khaki Campbells that are about 2 weeks old. I noticed yesterday that one of my pekins was walking kind of funny when I had him/her out of the brooder. I realized its legs were looking a bit bow legged and kind of splayed out. I decided it was potentially a niacin deficiency so I picked up some niacin yesterday (normal niacin, not flush free or time release). I've started dosing the water for all the ducklings, and separated off the pekin.

This morning I checked on the little ducky and he looked like he was ok. Still exhibiting symptoms of course but not showing any other issues. I checked on my other pekin this morning and found the it is also showing some leg issues. I brought them both in and gave them some exercise time in the tub to help work the muscles. I'm going to continue dosing niacin and keep those 2 separate from the others to make sure they're getting their supplement.

Is it best to keep them walking and moving at this point? I assume what is happening here is that they are growing so fast their little legs aren't really able to keep up. The pekin have grown significantly faster than the KCs. I'm wondering if I need to consider hobbling their legs for the time being.

I have a video of them preening after the water aerobics that shows their legs being kind of splayed and weak. I'll post it once it finishes transferring.

While waiting for the video to finish, this post has pictures of the first pekin I noticed yesterday

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/697050/michigan-thread-all-are-welcome/33310#post_15402834

From what I have read and heard, it is best to help them keep weight off the legs, give them nutritious food, probably multivitamins one a week, mostly.

Extra B vitamins are generally good for ducklings especially if they are on chick starter or have mobility or neurological problems.

If these are Jumbo Pekins, so much more need to help them develop with as little strain on their legs as possible, such as ramps (not steep) instead of steps, low spots for getting into and out of swim tubs, things like that.

Here's a vid of them doing what they do.

(Note if it's 2 years in the future and the vid is missing, I probably took it down)

@Amiga have you seen any good examples of a sling to get them up off their legs for a while? I want to rig something up to help them out.

I have seen a few - am trying to find them again.

Amiga said:

I have seen a few - am trying to find them again.

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Cool thx for the help. I have an old t shirt I can try and repurpose for it

My pekin had seizure problems, I always gave my ducks niacin supplements in the form of flush free tablets dissolved in their water. It was suggested I switch too a tablespoon brewers yeast in their food, so for almost 5 or 6 weeks I've been crushing up three to four brewers yeast tabs and putting it in their cottage cheese, eggs, or yogurt, whatever I give them for breakfast. I make sure they get excerise and veggies, grit, guppies, mealworms as usual. Point being, ice u switched to brewers yeast he has been doing great, no seizures for over a month and he was having seizures a few times a week. So try switching to brewers yeast, I think it will help!

Have you ever had a time when no matter where you looked, you could not find the link you wanted? sigh.

Anyway one that I saw recently was a cube-shaped frame made of half inch pvc, with little wheels on the four legs. A hammock was suspended across the top of it, so that the duck's feet could reach the ground, but there was not much pressure on the legs. There was an opening in the back for the vent.

duckies1230 said:

My pekin had seizure problems, I always gave my ducks niacin supplements in the form of flush free tablets dissolved in their water. It was suggested I switch too a tablespoon brewers yeast in their food, so for almost 5 or 6 weeks I've been crushing up three to four brewers yeast tabs and putting it in their cottage cheese, eggs, or yogurt, whatever I give them for breakfast. I make sure they get excerise and veggies, grit, guppies, mealworms as usual. Point being, ice u switched to brewers yeast he has been doing great, no seizures for over a month and he was having seizures a few times a week. So try switching to brewers yeast, I think it will help!

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Very interested. I've had quite a few people recommend brewers yeast now. Should I be trying that INSTEAD of the niacin tabs I'm using? I haven't really found any locally.

Also, my little duckies go crazy for meal worms, WAY more than my chickens.