Advice for Disabled Duck

[sarahgray18]

Your little one may not get better, and may have a shortened life span, but enjoy him while he is enjoying life! He's lucky to have you to care for him.

Thanks for your reply and kind words, it is appreciated!

I am so sorry for your loss, but it sounds like he was very loved and lived a great life, although short. He was lucky to have you to provide such great care for him. Thank you for sharing your experience.

As long as our little man is not suffering or in any distress, I will continue to enjoy every minute we have with him. He is such a sweet boy and loves to snuggle up next to my feet under my desk, cause mischief, and remind me when its snack time.

 

[Funkypossum]

Hi everyone, I'm seeking advice or insights about my duck, Mikey. He's a 7-month-old Welsh Harlequin drake. I have read through countless forums but I haven't found anything that directly relates to his specific situation.

I got Mikey along with his three siblings in May 2024 when they were just a couple of days old. Initially, they were fed a Chick and Duck Starter, which I now know isn't ideal, but finding duck-specific feed in Canada has been difficult. When Mikey was about 1-1.5 months old, we noticed he had a slight limp. One of his hocks also seemed slightly warm to the touch. To address this, I started adding brewer's yeast to their feed, which seemed to help a little. Occasionally, I added a niacin tablet to their water instead of the brewer's yeast. When they were 2-3 months old, I switched them to Purina Duck Pellets, which is their current diet.

Around the time Mikey was 2 months old, we noticed his wings were drooping. It wasn't the characteristic outward angle seen in angel wing cases, and I was told it might be that his feathers were growing rapidly and were heavy for his muscles and that it would likely correct itself. However, his wings didn't improve. I tried wrapping them, which provided temporary improvement, but the droop returned after a few hours or by the end of the day. By the time Mikey was 4-5 months old, his flight feathers began dragging on the ground. This seemed to be uncomfortable for him and they got very dirty, so we decided to trim the feathers. This helped keep them cleaner, and Mikey seemed more comfortable afterwards.

Around the same time his wings started drooping, Mikey also became wobbly and unsteady. I still occasionally supplemented their diet with niacin, but I didn't see any improvement in his balance. At 7 months old, this unsteadiness seems to be his "normal." He doesn't use his wings for balance, even before we clipped them, but often appears wobbly or "drunk" when standing still. He uses his wings only if he falls, which doesn't happen too often. I've noticed his unsteadiness is worse after baths, although he really enjoys them. I think this may be due to him trying to dry himself off. Occasionally, he stands upright with a hunchback posture for a couple of seconds and looks as though he's trying not to fall backwards.

In November 2024, I brought Mikey inside because the colder weather seemed to make him uncomfortable. He was isolating himself from the flock and staying inside while the others foraged. Once I brought him inside, I noticed he had developed wet feather, which I believe is due to his inability to properly preen himself because of his balance issues. When Mikey tries to reach his preen gland, he becomes very unsteady, and when he tries to preen his chest or stomach area, he often falls back onto his hocks. His back feathers still repel water and look healthy, but the rest of his feathers don't look great. I did not notice the wet feather sooner because Mikey never went crazy for the outdoor pool they have access to and didn't go in very often. He seems to prefer the bathtub inside where his feet can touch the ground.

Despite these issues, Mikey doesn't seem to be in pain, and I believe he has a good quality of life. He enjoys exploring my duck-proofed room, pecking at me for attention, being held or petted, and sleeping by my feet at my desk when he's tired. He also enjoys playing with some of the dog's toys. I bring in one of the outdoor ducks for a week and alternate them to ensure they stay acquainted. He also enjoys playing with them and causing trouble. He has a huge appetite and absolutely goes crazy for peas and mealworms. I would love for him to join his friends outside when the weather gets warmer but I am also okay if he ends up being a permanent house duck.

I was wondering if anyone has experienced something similar and might have advice on how to help Mikey. I want to ensure he's as comfortable as possible. I'd love any suggestions or ideas to make sure Mikey has the best life possible. Please let me know if you need any more information. Thank you so much for your help in advance!

I have a special needs duck named Quackers. Indoor. I love her so much. Sometimes we dont get answers...as to why the end up this way. I am so happy that I have her. She cant walk but shes a happy duck.