8 week old duckling with weak leg

[casportpony]

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.

Some ducks need a lot more niacin than others, so I think supplementing some b is a good idea.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The farther down the nutrients the lower the amount so you might want to keep this for mantience and get the bottle of liquid b complex the foil comes off easy and you can use A 1 ml dropper to dose.

 

[Knighstar679]

We have recommended liquid b complex which is more intensive than brewers yeasts. It has more of the vitamins needed in less amount.

 

[Knighstar679]

I provided it for bigger ducks regularly. But my light and little ducks I do it only a few times a week when they are young unless they show injury or problems. But I feed nature wise which has a higher niacin content.

 

[cymbaline]

Hi there! I know exactly what this is - you need to go to your local nutrition store and ask for brewers yeast. it is not the same kind you would find at a grocery store, you need the nutritional supplement type. You can also order online if you can't find it locally, it should be under 25$ for a container of it. Immediately start administering this in their water. I will look up the proper dosage and get back to you. Brewers yeast should be in your chick starter, as it's essential for their bone growth! I check the ingredients at my local feed store when buying chick starter, some lack essential stuff which is bizarre to me that the suppliers wouldn't do their research and incorporate everything the babies need.

I've been putting brewer's yeast in their food from day one. I got the liquid b complex that was recommended also and have started giving them that instead.
I agree! Why on Earth do the manufacturers not put more niacin in their feed? It's not going to hurt the birds that don't need it, and who knows how many babies it could save?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I was told that earlier, that's why I started adding the oats. I don't know that such a thing is available in my area... I've been feeding all my ducks Purina Flock Raiser for years. Maybe they have it as a layer feed, but it's my understanding I can't use that since I have drakes too.

Flock Raiser is great feed a lot of duck owners use it because it’s made for all poultry.

 

[cymbaline]

It really sounds more like an injury. You might try a shoe to stabilize the foot so it stays in the proper place you can use a plastic container and cut into shape if the foot then wrap in vet wrap place the foot in and wrap again In vet wrap making sure to go up around ankle aways to help hold it in place you know to be careful an not wrap too tight. That might help the ankle have support also those pipe covers made out of insulated foams could be cut a used to but it would be nice to know exactly what’s going on. So we don’t make matters worse. I don’t think the shoe would though.

I hadn't been able to get through to the vet's office yet (been getting a busy signal...I've called 5 or 6 times...I know they're popular but dang, lol) so last night I made him a brace/splint/boot. Used the corner of a grape tomato container, but it was too flimsy, so after cutting it to shape I braced the back by gorilla-taping some hardware cloth to it. Then placed it on his leg and foot and wrapped with vet wrap.
Took a few tries, I guess I wasn't wrapping tight enough and it kept slipping and sliding, but guess who was standing up when I got home from work today?
Maybe it will let whatever is hurt heal and not let his other muscles weaken too much in the meantime. Overnight I decided to put him that basket til he got used to the brace bc he was having some trouble with the leg falling backward which made him have to flap around to get it back where it should be. I think I may leave him there... from what I've seen so far today it's helping keep his leg under him, and let him stand up and move around more easily. When he's out his own, this tends to happen:
But if you can get him situated, he does a lot better.

 

[quackiemama]

That is awesome! Great job on the boot btw!

 

[DuckyDonna]

I'm pretty sure a shot gun will take care of that turtle!

 

[cymbaline]

I'm pretty sure a shot gun will take care of that turtle!

if I had been thinking clearly and hadn't been so anxious to check on Blanche, and eager to not get bitten myself, lol, I'd have held on to him...my neighbor that alerted me was on his way with a shovel to "take care of" the turtle. I just flung the stupid thing as fast I could away from my babies though. Hindsight is 20/20...