Any idea what is wrong with my duck's leg?

[boxermizer]

Can you take a video of her walking, upload it to YouTube or Vimeo then copy and paste the link here?

I will try to do that this afternoon. I have since moved her back to a dog kennel in the shop/barn at night and in a make-shift pen outside during the day and have been putting her in a tub of water for a couple hours each day. Sunday I soaked her feet in Epsom salt twice for about 10-15 minutes each time. I didn't have time yesterday, but plan to again today, probably just once. I've also been putting the arnica (plus several other homeopathic remedies) cream on the bruised area twice a day. She seems to be up a little more than she had been and she laid an egg Sunday and Monday, but not today. She's also a bit more feisty in trying to get away from me when I go to pick her up, so I think overall she's feeling a little better. I also think the swelling has gone down a hair, but the bruising is still there and I think looks a little more prominent, but I feel that's because a little swelling has gone down.

 

[chickens really]

Well in everything I've known about Pekin is they are meat Birds and get to heavy for the bones and tendons. Not bred for long lives.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I remember a few members on here who had Pekins that were around 12 yrs old so not a death sentence if one gets older. And if this is an injury hopefully she'll recover it just takes time.
That's great news about the swelling going down.
Hoping she makes full recovery.

 

[boxermizer]

Well in everything I've known about Pekin is they are meat Birds and get to heavy for the bones and tendons. Not bred for long lives.

And I don't know how old she is. I didn't think she was very old when I got her, but I can't say I directly asked, just my assumption based on our conversation. They said they started laying in February and they were right, but last year they laid all winter. So I've assumed they were young from that spring/summer and that February was the first season they laid. I've had them 2 years now, so I'm guessing they are still young.

 

[boxermizer]

I got a video late yesterday evening, but didn't have a chance to upload it and now my phone is dead. I'll try sometime tomorrow. She didn't lay again today and her ankle doesn't look any different, but she's remaining feisty, eating and drinking well. Gobbled up some frozen peas and mealworms the last 2 days. She was even knabbing them with my hand in the pen tonight, she wasn't letting my presence deter her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s great she’s still fiesty and eating good that means she hasn’t given up. It’s true Pekins were developed for meat and to grow fast for butcher. But if given a chance, fed well making sure they don’t get over weight. They have as good a chance of living a long life as any other breed. Main problem is their legs so it’s important when they are ducklings they get adequate amount of niacin in their diet. We have found that liquid B Complex works better and faster with ones that have already developed leg issues like lameness, pigeon toes. It can even help with an injury because it supports leg muscle strength. Along with water therapy to help keep the legs strong while healing. Main thing is do we give up or see it through till she decides when she’s had enough? I have a Muscovy female 12 yrs old with arthritis in her hip she walks with a limp I watch her everyday to make sure she is still enjoying her life. She hasn’t given up yet, so every evening she gets 1 ml of liquid glucosamine before bed. We take it a day at a time she is a pet to me not live stock. I am not saying anyone is a bad person if they decided the quality of life their duck has now is not good an euthanasia is decided on.

​

I’ll admit it I am a softee. But I won't let one of mine suffer if they give up.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Well in everything I've known about Pekin is they are meat Birds and get to heavy for the bones and tendons. Not bred for long lives.

But that CAN live long lives with good husbandry

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[chickens really]

And I don't know how old she is. I didn't think she was very old when I got her, but I can't say I directly asked, just my assumption based on our conversation. They said they started laying in February and they were right, but last year they laid all winter. So I've assumed they were young from that spring/summer and that February was the first season they laid. I've had them 2 years now, so I'm guessing they are still young.

Possibly a fractured toe? More rest might be needed.

 

[boxermizer]

Finally. Here's the link to the video. It's not the best. Despite the numerous times I've picked her up and baby her, she thinks I'm going to kill her and keeps as far from me as possible, so it was difficult to get her to walk. But you can see that she uses the foot, but she has a definite limp, I'm not sure it shows up as bad as it looks in person. But this was a few days ago and today I don't think she's limping quite as much. I also think a tad more swelling has gone down, but still very bruised and definitely still swollen. She's getting quicker at trying to get away from me and she laid an egg again today. That's 3 in the last week and a half or so. So I feel she's getting better, but it's still going to take quite a while.