2.5 year old drake having balance issues - vet was unsure of what's wrong...any ideas?

[Miss Lydia]

It was definitely something that very slowly got worse over a length of time. He only stumbled sometimes for the first few months, then I started noticing that he would sit frequently, then I hardly ever saw him standing anymore.
I came to pretty much the same conclusion when I saw him tapping his foot - that it was like he was trying to "wake" it up. They didn't notice anything abnormal in his blood work or x-rays though, just inflammation of unknown origin.
You had asked about his leg in the water - I videoed him for a few minutes last night (had to go change clothes afterward because of all his splashing, lol):

I just love how he drinks/bites the water falling. <3
I never did really see him use his right leg though, even when he tipped over a little. I think he's been using his right wing to compensate a lot, in and out of the water, which I hope doesn't cause him more issues...

Doesn't look like he is using that leg at all just keeping it out back, as long as you keep him on soft material like soft grass and bedding his wing will probably be okay it's when they have access to hard ground that's when you notice open wounds where the skin has broken down. He sure seems to enjoy life. Bless his heart having a good attitude makes all your doing for him worth while.

 

[cymbaline]

Doesn't look like he is using that leg at all just keeping it out back, as long as you keep him on soft material like soft grass and bedding his wing will probably be okay it's when they have access to hard ground that's when you notice open wounds where the skin has broken down. He sure seems to enjoy life. Bless his heart having a good attitude makes all your doing for him worth while.

He's on towels in his box a lot of the time, to make poo cleanup easier and to give him a comfy place to sit. And if he's outside I definitely put him in the grass, preferably near lots of dandelions and/or clover. You should see when I pick him up to carry him...if I don't support his legs I guess he thinks he's airborne and he just flaps his wings as hard as he can trying to take flight...so stinking cute. I think I already said that earlier in this thread but it is just so funny. He is so full of life and brings me so much joy. <3

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ernies girls the 2 white ones were 10 this last July Ruth is going to be 8 next March

Ernie he was 10yrs this past March.

Makes all the difference their attitude, maybe you should run around out in the yard with him so he thinks he's flying

just don't do it if the neighbors are home. Ernie my old drake tries to flap his wings when I pick him up and if I don't support his legs he'll flap his feet like crazy. Ernie just doesn't have any flight feathers anymore because he doesn't molt so when he last lost his wing feathers to fighting they never grew back. I took a pic of him today I'll upload it and post.

 

[cymbaline]

Makes all the difference their attitude, maybe you should run around out in the yard with him so he thinks he's flying

just don't do it if the neighbors are home. Ernie my old drake tries to flap his wings when I pick him up and if I don't support his legs he'll flap his feet like crazy. Ernie just doesn't have any flight feathers anymore because he doesn't molt so when he last lost his wing feathers to fighting they never grew back. I took a pic of him today I'll upload it and post.

Haha! Bet that would earn me the title of "crazy duck lady" for sure, if I haven't earned it already, that is.
Ernie is handsome. He looks very healthy. Was his head always colored like that or is he "going gray"? His lady-friends look very plump and healthy and happy too.
I wish Bullwinkle could've had that many good years before he got so sick.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Haha! Bet that would earn me the title of "crazy duck lady" for sure, if I haven't earned it already, that is.
Ernie is handsome. He looks very healthy. Was his head always colored like that or is he "going gray"? His lady-friends look very plump and healthy and happy too.
I wish Bullwinkle could've had that many good years before he got so sick.

He use to have a blk head, he's my only one that does. They are all doing pretty good considering their ages, for the last 2 yrs we weren't sure if he'd make it through another winter but he surprises us each year, hope this year he'll do well too. I know it would have been nice if Bullwinkle hadn't had this happen it's just something we never know when we take on these animals. I bet he wouldn't still be going strong though if he hadn't had you to care for him. I'm thankful we don't have neighbors they are all across the river from us and I'm sure they hear my flock especially the geese when they get going, My Muscovy's don't make alot of noise the geese make up for it.
Was Bullwinkle bonded with any girls before this happened.

 

[cymbaline]

He use to have a blk head, he's my only one that does. They are all doing pretty good considering their ages, for the last 2 yrs we weren't sure if he'd make it through another winter but he surprises us each year, hope this year he'll do well too. I know it would have been nice if Bullwinkle hadn't had this happen it's just something we never know when we take on these animals. I bet he wouldn't still be going strong though if he hadn't had you to care for him. I'm thankful we don't have neighbors they are all across the river from us and I'm sure they hear my flock especially the geese when they get going, My Muscovy's don't make alot of noise the geese make up for it.
Was Bullwinkle boned with any girls before this happened.

That's so cute. I've seen dogs get gray on their heads before, but never heard of it with a duck.
I hate it for him, not for me. He's not that much trouble to care for, and I honestly enjoy having him in the house. I just don't feel like that's the best life he could have and I would much rather him be able to live and play with the other ducks outside, where ducks belong. But you're right, he definitely wouldn't have made it this far without me. He is incredibly helpless now, and has been for months. And now I think he's just spoiled, lol. It didn't look like he'd eaten much when I got home, so I gave him fresh water (because he's too prissy to drink the water that he dirtied with food - haha) and held his food bowl up to him and he dug in like he was starving. I sat the bowl down and he stopped eating. I pointed to it, and he just cocked his head and looked at me. So I picked back up and he dug in again, lol. Now I promise you he can reach that bowl just fine - it wasn't 4 inches away from his head! He just wanted me to hold it up closer for him...rotten little thing.

Was he "boned with any girls"? Lol, not sure what you mean there...
He and Rocky and the babies from last spring all lived together for a while. Ruby Sue was Bullwinkle's little girlfriend - they were rarely ever far from each other. The first avian vet I spoke with on the phone (a cousin in NC) when he first started stumbling and sitting more figured he had pulled some muscles while mating, actually, since he had no other symptoms and it was that time of the year. She thought with some rest and extra vitamins he'd be all better in 6 weeks or less, but obviously that wasn't the case.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That's so cute. I've seen dogs get gray on their heads before, but never heard of it with a duck.
I hate it for him, not for me. He's not that much trouble to care for, and I honestly enjoy having him in the house. I just don't feel like that's the best life he could have and I would much rather him be able to live and play with the other ducks outside, where ducks belong. But you're right, he definitely wouldn't have made it this far without me. He is incredibly helpless now, and has been for months. And now I think he's just spoiled, lol. It didn't look like he'd eaten much when I got home, so I gave him fresh water (because he's too prissy to drink the water that he dirtied with food - haha) and held his food bowl up to him and he dug in like he was starving. I sat the bowl down and he stopped eating. I pointed to it, and he just cocked his head and looked at me. So I picked back up and he dug in again, lol. Now I promise you he can reach that bowl just fine - it wasn't 4 inches away from his head! He just wanted me to hold it up closer for him...rotten little thing.

Was he "boned with any girls"? Lol, not sure what you mean there...
He and Rocky and the babies from last spring all lived together for a while. Ruby Sue was Bullwinkle's little girlfriend - they were rarely ever far from each other. The first avian vet I spoke with on the phone (a cousin in NC) when he first started stumbling and sitting more figured he had pulled some muscles while mating, actually, since he had no other symptoms and it was that time of the year. She thought with some rest and extra vitamins he'd be all better in 6 weeks or less, but obviously that wasn't the case.

Bonded is what I meant lol Have you ever brought Ruby Sue in to visit? or swim in the tub? lol I'd say he's spoiled having you hold his bowl for him to eat, My drake Opie loves for me to hold the treat bowl so he can eat out of it while everyone else has to eat off the ground. They do train us well.

Ernie in his younger years

 

[cymbaline]

Bonded is what I meant lol Have you ever brought Ruby Sue in to visit? or swim in the tub? lol I'd say he's spoiled having you hold his bowl for him to eat, My drake Opie loves for me to hold the treat bowl so he can eat out of it while everyone else has to eat off the ground. They do train us well.

Ernie in his younger years

Ah!
No, he gets to see her when they all go out to play though. I think bringing her in would spaz her out more than it would comfort him. I had to bring Turkey in when she first began to lay because I suspected she was having trouble and didn't want her to become egg-bound (there's a thread on it here somewhere), and I brought Ruby in to keep her company for the night. I don't think she cared for it, lol. I also had to bring her in to recuperate when the boys were too rough on her and she was definitely angry with me then!

I was surprised at how much Rocky missed him though. He will go over and stand with Bull a lot and sometimes kind of nuzzle him...absolutely precious! These pics are from September and about a week ago.



Oh yes, the ducks are definitely in charge, aren't they?

Wow, Ernie really changed his looks over the years. Handsome young plump fellow there, and a distinguished grayed gentleman now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ah!
No, he gets to see her when they all go out to play though. I think bringing her in would spaz her out more than it would comfort him. I had to bring Turkey in when she first began to lay because I suspected she was having trouble and didn't want her to become egg-bound (there's a thread on it here somewhere), and I brought Ruby in to keep her company for the night. I don't think she cared for it, lol. I also had to bring her in to recuperate when the boys were too rough on her and she was definitely angry with me then!

I was surprised at how much Rocky missed him though. He will go over and stand with Bull a lot and sometimes kind of nuzzle him...absolutely precious! These pics are from September and about a week ago.



Oh yes, the ducks are definitely in charge, aren't they?

Wow, Ernie really changed his looks over the years. Handsome young plump fellow there, and a distinguished grayed gentleman now.

That's funny you have a Rocky and Bullwinkle and I had an Ernie and Bert, just have Ernie now. Such sweet pics.Sure wish my boys would be pals, yeah right.. although this time of year things are quiet with the ducks. Nice break.

 

[cymbaline]

That's funny you have a Rocky and Bullwinkle and I had an Ernie and Bert, just have Ernie now. Such sweet pics.Sure wish my boys would be pals, yeah right.. although this time of year things are quiet with the ducks. Nice break.

I had hoped to have a Rocky and Ruby Sue (cousin Eddie's kids from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - the best movie ever! lol), but Bullwinkle was a late bloomer and when I found out he was a he instead of a she, Bullwinkle was the only name that made sense...plus I loved those cartoons as a kid anyway. It was months before I could call them and not want to say "Moose and Squirrel" in a thick Russian accent like Natasha, haha!
All of my boys get along surprisingly well; only problem I have is them ganging up on poor Ruby. They absolutely wear her out, and practically ignore Turkey. I don't think Roxy got much attention this summer/fall either. Maybe it's her sexy new hairdo?

I joke about her "hairdo", but honestly I think it's that her feathers don't grow in right anymore where they boys mated with her so much and stripped the back of her little head bald at the beginning of this year.