13 week old duck limping, holding foot up

[sheenersb]

Yesterday I thought I saw Blanche limp, but then didn’t see it again. We were away from home all day and this evening I noticed her limping quite a bit. I picked her up and checked the bottom of her feet, they look perfect. No bumble foot or injuries of any kind. Her legs appeared fine, and she didn’t make a sound or try to get away when I inspected her legs. No swelling, no obvious injury.

I just got video of Blanche walking and she is for sure holding her foot up as much as she can. I tried to attach video but it will only allow pics…

I supplemented all of them with niacin as ducklings and they now eat scratch and peck grower crumbles with grubs. I also feed sprouted barley daily and they forage all day. We have a surplus of bugs.

She’s the only one limping, and this is the first I have seen any of them with a leg issue.

Any ideas on what it could be and what I can do?

All 10 sleep together in their home, I’m trying to think if I have anything I could put her and another one in for the night if I need to separate her. Or should she be alone? I feel like she’ll call out to the others all night if she’s entirely alone.

 

[sheenersb]

I tried to attach video but it will only allow pics…

 

[cheezenkwackers]

She could have strained or sprained it. If they are starting to practice mating, a male may have injured her accidentally. If you can, separate her and another female in a dog crate or small area so that she can rest it. Swim therapy, especially in Epsom salt water may help. You just don’t want her to drink a lot of Epsom salt water.

 

[sheenersb]

She could have strained or sprained it. If they are starting to practice mating, a male may have injured her accidentally. If you can, separate her and another female in a dog crate or small area so that she can rest it. Swim therapy, especially in Epsom salt water may help. You just don’t want her to drink a lot of Epsom salt water.

The drakes (Cayugas) are only interested in their own two girls… they kind of chase the others away and the harlequins don’t swim with the Cayugas or get very close to them at all. So I think maybe a sprain?

I’ll keep her in the pen all day tomorrow and the next day with a friend to rest, and see how she does. Thanks for the tip on the Epsom soaks. I will start those tomorrow AM and see how she does. I can’t think of a way to separate her for tonight.

 

[CoriM]

Maybe she sprained or strained it - just keep her and a friend in an a smaller area with food and water so she can rest it a couple of days!

 

[sheenersb]

So far, she’s still limping. Resting a lot. I’ll see if I can find more vets tomorrow that might be able to at least do an x ray. I think it might be the ankle.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Are you seeing any swelling? heat in the ankle area? Have you been supplementing their diet with any niacin for leg strength?

 

[CoriM]

@sheenersb How is your duck doing?

 

[sheenersb]

@sheenersb How is your duck doing?

Hey Cori,

Blanche is fantastic. We did some Epsom soak baths each day (super fun!) and I gave her extra support with vitamins/electrolytes in her water. Kept her separate as much as I could.

For sure the injury was from a drake breeding her on land (rather than water, and I think she’s too little for him).

Thankfully she is good as gold now!