8 week old duckling with weak leg

[cymbaline]

I'm not sure what's going on with my big ol' baby.
They've had brewer's yeast in their food almost every time I've ever fed them. I don't see any injuries? but the weak leg seems atrophied compared to the other. I think it bears weight okay, but the leg swings out to the right as he/she walks (I STILL can't tell either way! I thought a boy for a while bc it sounded so quiet but now it gets kind of loud sometimes, but not "honk-y" like a girl?). From what I've read about perosis so far, it doesn't seem like that? It has lumbered around rather ungracefully for a while but I thought it was just because it grew SO big SO fast... I've only noticed real trouble walking the last couple days. It's possible it was injured...if I take them outside/inside I can only get one at a time and in the 30 seconds it takes me to grab the other sometimes they will jump off the steps/couch/whatever...(like I'm just going to ditch them - come on babies, you know better than that, lol)

Any ideas?

 

[cymbaline]

It looks to me like your duck might have a niacin deficiency. Can you get some vitamin b complex for this duck?

I've been feeding them brewer's yeast since I brought them home, but yes, I'm going to pick up some the liquid b complex Miss Lydia suggested and try that.

 

[cymbaline]

Also - epsom salt baths for ducks DO WORK great! I have had 2 ducks of mine hurt their ankles and it swelled up huge. I had them soak once a day in a warm epsom salt bath with clean water until I noticed improvement and it worked wonders. My ducks were full grown when it happened so I bought a litter box that was big/deep enough to fit one duck in it. You need to fill it with hot water and add the epsom salt into it, then let it cool down a bit before placing your duck into it. Since it's a duckling you can probably use a salad bowl or something on hand.

Wow - how long did it take to see improvement?
Technically it's still a duckling, I guess (I still consider them babies, lol), but it's been bigger than my full grown mallards for a couple weeks now I should weigh it when I get home, I bet it's at least 4lbs... bigger than my Welshies too. Big ol' cuddly baby...

 

[Knighstar679]

Wow - how long did it take to see improvement?
Technically it's still a duckling, I guess (I still consider them babies, lol), but it's been bigger than my full grown mallards for a couple weeks now I should weigh it when I get home, I bet it's at least 4lbs... bigger than my Welshies too. Big ol' cuddly baby... View attachment 1802276

It all depends on how bad the problem is. I had one with wry neck that took two months to get fixed finally. But the Rouens I had I saw improvement in their legs in a week but they hadn’t gotten to the level your baby is because they were smaller when it started.

Between rest and good vitamin complex mix you may see something in a week but it can take longer with bigger birds like Pekin.

 

[quackiemama]

https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/products/detail/purina-flock-raiser-pellets

That is exactly what I use and all of my birds have been perfectly happy and healthy. I do admit that I did buy some layer pellets last year when my girls started laying but have since moved back to the Flock Raiser and offer oyster shells for the ones that need it. They seem to love it! My little 6 week olds are eating it as well.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I recently started using it also and it seems to have everything they need to grow healthy and strong.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s awesome keep up with the BComplex and swim time to keep the muscles strong and if the boot is working then keep that up too that support must be working!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s a shame I don’t think snapping turtles need deep water when I lived in Florida they would be found in deep ditches. Poor Blanche glad you were there to save her. Sounds like you have done a good job cleaning the wound and more than likely she’ll be fine keep the flies away. As for big Al I just can’t imagine what could be going on unless it’s an injury and they can take quite a while to heal.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You can def see swelling can you try some Epsom salt wraps? or soaks? Maybe jumped one to many times. I'd give it a few days of this and keeping it from doing a lot of walking or running rest and soaks with pool time for exercise. Helping the little one in an out. Also maybe instead of Brewers yeast get the liquid b complex at TSC in the cattle dept and start giving 1 ml a day for support of those muscles. It works so much better than brewers yeast.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes get an All flock feed Purina makes a good one but I am sure there are others too. There will be 20% protein but the bag says for all poultry. Ducks included and I have used it for my flock from hatch till end of life. Makes it nice not having to change feeds. And still get the liquid b that will def help with muscle and joint health. I see the left legs is swollen is it just the way you have the camera angled?