2019 Spring Ducklings are here!

[bluemerle]

That is a treats-ball, you fill it with treats like meal-worms, the ducks can play with it and sometimes a treat falls out.
My grown up ducks are scared to death of this, if i put that in their house they refuse to go in, i placed it in the brooder so that the new ducks get used to it from the beginning. And i'm looking forward to some duckling soccer…

Oh, I see!! That's a very good idea - there's a treat ball at the dollar store I've been eyeing, and I'm definitely going to introduce my little ones to it when I get them. My former ducks were scared to death of anything new, so I definitely don't want to repeat that mistake.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Doesn’t look like spraddle leg can the leg be extended the same length as the other one? Any swelling around the knee area.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@casportpony do you think putting a shoe on this ducklings foot will help? can’t just leave it like that.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Doesn’t look like spraddle leg can the leg be extended the same length as the other one? Any swelling around the knee area.

No swelling, the leg is not hot or looks injured and i can move it into a "normal" position without causing stress for the duckling. It is just limp, she isn't moving it at all.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Chick Shoes for Twisted or Curled Toes

• CAUTION: A chick wearing Chick Shoes can easily drown if it stumbles near a water container. See "Prevent Drowning in Water Dish"section.
• Use for splinting and correcting Twisted Toes, or sometimes to help with Curled Toes. (With Twisted Toes, an adult or chick walks on sides of twisted toes. With Curled Toes, a chick walks on tops of curled toes.)
• Cut out a small, flat triangle a little larger than the size that the chick's foot should be when toes are spread. Position each toe correctly and then use a small piece of sports tape to tape the toe to the cardboard.
  • Triangle be cut from sponge, thin cardboard/paperboard or a piece of a plastic lid from something like a sour cream container.
  • Illustrations that can be adapted for chicks or older birds are posted at http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/710778/deformed-claw-unable-to-fix-now-what.
• A different type of chick shoe splint can be made from pipe cleaners (or flower arranging wire and thin padding, for older chickens).
  • Instructions for this kind of chick shoe and also a half chick shoe at http://www.unitedpeafowlassociation.org/PeachickOrthopedics.html
    • Recommendation: Use sports tape instead of duct tape.
• If treating young chick: Important to put on new shoe at least every 1-3 days while feet growing fast.The chick will likely need to wear the shoes a total of 4 days to 2 weeks, depending on the severity of the problem
  • Make sure shoe size increased regularly so foot doesn't outgrow shoe. Toe Taping (See below) may be better for treating some problems.
  • Notice and correct sooner if chick wiggles toe into wrong position, before deformities are caused.
• If treating older bird: You may want to treat moderately twisted toes if causing problems. Do not try to correct long-term, severely twisted toes. Bones, muscles & ligaments are mature & may not be able to be reshaped, or will change more slowly.
  • Aim for gradual reshaping.
  • Check regularly that there isn't too much debris sticking to shoe, & that toes haven't slipped loose.
  • Change the shoe at least every 4-7 days.The bird may need to wear the shoes and/or have its toes taped (See below) for 2-5 weeks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I couldn't find pics I have seen posted here that show really good pics of taping and making a shoe maybe K has some.

 

[WVduckchick]

Looks more like a hip issue to me, not just the foot. Like it’s out of its socket.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@DuckyDonna know anything about hip out of joint? seems you could possibility feel if it was out of joint?

 

[DuckyDonna]

@DuckyDonna know anything about hip out of joint? seems you could possibility feel if it was out of joint?

Sure, in people! Let me watch the video again! Yes, I agree. It's not the leg it's the hip!

The poor sweet little thing isn't even trying to use the leg, he's just dragging it along like it's baggage. I wonder if it could be a birth defect. It's 1/2 the size of the others!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hillbilly did you contact hatchery?