He eats and drinks fine. He broke a blood feather so we have had him in an extra large dog kennel where he can still be with his sister and brother. We have it extra padded for him to relieve pressure and keep it clean and dry. He can move around and the sides are padded to protect his wings. I hold him up and help him stretch his legs whenever I can. I keep hoping we are doing the right, and best thing for him. The mere thought of losing him breaks my heart.
I'd make shoes to get his feet uncurled or buy them. To make them you can use cardboard or plastic from a coolwhip container or similar. Cut to size of his feet then wrap in vet wrap of medical take even duct tape would work, You just want to cover the sharp edges. Place the feet on the shoes and use vet wrap since it sticks to itself to wrap the feet on the shoes and up around the ankle going up the ankle will help keep them on.
When he is in water can he stand?
The standard dose of the Durvet Liquid B Complex is 1 ml daily you maybe overdoing on the B complex.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/
Any chance of a vet looking at him?
Is he eating well?
The only thing I can think of is a lot of water therapy to build up strength in his legs.
What was the food the babysitter fed him? Could it have been toxic to him?
Yes he can stand and move in water very well.
I will look into getting these shoes made ASAP. Thank you!!
Yes, there is an avian vet about an hour from here. We wanted to limit his stress level in the beginning. He had a problem with niacin as a baby and was acting the same way. After we started feeding him peas with nutritional yeast on them, he was fine. The food our babysitter gave him was a starter food for birds in general. Purina was the brand I believe. It may have been
Manna Pro or Country Companion. I doubt it could have toxic because his sister and brother were eating the same thing. I think not being fed peas, or getting his fair share contributed as well.
He eats wonderfully. And drinks. It seems as though he is getting stronger every day but his feet curling has become a recent concern. Oh, as far as overdoing the B Complex, lol, I do the little extra because by the time you drizzle it over the peas, then sprinkle with nutritional yeast, he's probably only getting half of it. The rest coats the side of the bowl. I add a little water to it and he blows bubbles in it, sips some of it, then wants a drink of clean water and feeding time.
I believe that he has a genetic issue with vitamin absorption personally. We hatched these babies in an incubator from eggs that were at least 4 weeks old. Their mom started laying eggs in winter. We were meaning to toss them when she sadly and suddenly died. Out of the 3 of 16 that developed in the egg, only 1 hasn't had problems. She is just the walking definition of a teenager in a bird. Haha. The other male was runt. He was SOOO tiny. Half the size of the other two at 2 weeks old. We worked on gut biome issues with them and now he is a big and beautiful young man. Thriving.
Thank you again for your help!! I needed a little bump of encouragement today.
