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?

 

[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.

 

[chickens really]

It's a Pekin and a meat bird. What feed has it been on?

 

[cymbaline]

It's a Pekin and a meat bird. What feed has it been on?

20% starter, but I cut it with oats when they started growing wings to avoid angel wing (which it looks like we've managed).

 

[chickens really]

20% starter, but I cut it with oats when they started growing wings to avoid angel wing (which it looks like we've managed).

A broiler or a Grower Finisher feed at 16% is good for meat birds. They grow so fast it's hard on joints.

 

[cymbaline]

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.

The bad leg is on the left in the pics (its right leg) - you see swelling? To me it looks a lot smaller than the other.
I'll pick up some of that this evening and give it a try

 

[cymbaline]

A broiler or a Grower Finisher feed at 16% is good for meat birds. They grow so fast it's hard on joints.

Hmm, the feed I get for the grown ducks isn't that low either...I'll see what I can find, or maybe just cut them with oats or something for good, I guess.

 

[chickens really]

Hmm, the feed I get for the grown ducks isn't that low either...I'll see what I can find, or maybe just cut them with oats or something for good, I guess.

My feed is an all flock type of Grower finisher.

 

[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?

 

[cymbaline]

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?

Yeah, the Purina is the one I get - the green bag. I think the first year or two I used Dumor and then read something - I forget what - that made me decide to switch to the Purina and I've bought it ever since.
The left leg is bigger for sure, but it doesn't feel swollen, just thicker... that's what made me think the right leg was atrophied/weak. But now you've got me wondering. In the videos though, the right leg is the one getting swing around and in the second video is the leg that causes it to fall down, so surely that's the problem leg, right?