Anyone know what's wrong with this little guy? (leg problems)

[Miss Lydia]

Here's is more info https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...s-with-tape-picture-tutorial-and-video.75247/

 

[RodgerT]

He doesn't seem to mind the boots and is still eating well so we'll see how the vitamin B does. I only gave him 1/4 ml into a quart of water because I was unsure of the niacinamide, but I'll give him 1 ml tomorrow. It seems like swimming might be helping him too. It gives him a chance to use those muscles without having to support his full weight.

I bought these eggs, 12 of them, with 11 making it to hatch. One never developed. I got them because a few years back I was forced to incubate 7 eggs from a nest next to our porch that the mother had abandoned. My dogs made her abandon it so I felt I had an obligation to take care of them. They turned out fine and I released them into a large neighborhood pond with (probably) their siblings from wherever their momma made her second nest. Or, that's what I believed because there were 6 adolescents of the same size as my guys. For the last several years local ducks have stayed for the winter at our local ponds.

But I am teaching them to get bugs from the water (meal worms and cricket parts) , and to eat grasses and bugs from the back yard. They're going into a movable pen this weekend. I haven't been handling them because I don't want them to lose their fear of big mammals and my dogs are helping with that. They obviously know the food comes from me but they'll have lots of water plants and minnows at the pond. Plus, they will get treats from the local children, though I'll be educating them not to feed them bread.

Of course I would never release limpy in this condition. I don't even know if he would make it as a yard duck if he doesn't improve. So I'll be doing everything I can to help him with this. I really appreciate the help.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Please keep us updated on limpy. You sound very responsible, we just hear so much about dumped ducks we're very out spoken about releasing ducks that have been raised by humans.

 

[RodgerT]

So sad to say that Limpy couldn't be helped and had to be gently put down.

I was even willing to spend the money for an operation, but after a thorough examination by a competent exotic pet veterinarian it was determined that an operation almost certainly wouldn't help. The only option would have been to fuse the leg bones into a straight configuration and leave him with always straightened legs. His quality of life wouldn't have been good.

On a brighter note, Limpy's brothers and sisters are doing well. They have all the basic duck skills and growing healthily.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm so sorry about Limpy. You def made the right decision. Thank you for updating and its so good to hear all of his siblings are doing great.