Bow-legged duckling, what to do?

[Sunny Side Up]

I recently acquired 4 Pekin ducklings from someone who mail-ordered them but then couldn't keep them. I was told they are 2 weeks old. One of them is very bow-legged & I need to know what to do for him. He has a very wide stance, as if he just got off a horse he'd been riding all afternoon. His legs from hip to hock are at a 45 degree angle to his body, then his lower legs from hock to foot are at a 90 degree angle to the ground. So far he doesn't seem to lag behind the others when walking around.

I began giving them all some Poly-vi-sol vitamin drops as soon as I got them home, a few drops in the AM & the PM. They're eating Purina Flock Raiser. No photos are available to post, sorry.

Is this a good course of care? Is there anything else I could give, to the bow-legged duckling & also to the others? Thank you for your imput.

 

[bock]

Tape the legs together in normal position until it heals. You can get more info if you google spraddle leg. Good luck!

 

[Hennyhandler]

You might want to give them some niacin. Ducks need more than chickens. This you can get in capsule form which you open and use a LITTLE of the powder in their water or food. Just a sprinkle. Without this they can have problems walking. Flock raiser is supposed to have some in there from what the bag says, I think. I give mine this too but I went ahead and added the niacin anyway because so many people said it was important.
I don't know if this is the problem but thought it could be a possibility and if it was me I would like to know. SO good luck!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

What material would you suggest for securing the legs in place? Do you think gauze strips would work? I am keeping them outside in a covered pen during the day & bring them into a straw-lined bin at night. And where do you get capsules of powdered Niacin? I could only find tablets & think it would be a bother to grind them up. I'm giving them Poly-vi-sol baby vitamins (without iron) and that has niacin in it.

 

[Hennyhandler]

I got mine at walmart in the vitamin section. That was the cheapest and the best kind I could find. Good Luck!!!

 

[nicokl502]

what happen with your duck i have one right now that sounds like what your had??? i have try to tape his leg but have no idea how to do it?? i did niacin , poly-vi-sol baby vitamins and i also used vitamin e is there anything more that i could do??

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I'm afraid that my duck didn't have a good end. I don't know where these particular ducklings came from, but they seemed to be weak stock. I don't know if some Pekins are just meant for meat and aren't bred for long & healthy lives. Perhaps you can start a new thread and post pictures of your duck and its issues, others on this duck forum may be able to give you better advice,

 

[nicokl502]

i am sorry to hear about that i will have to put a post on hear and ask for some help

 

[teschk]

I also have four week old Pekins. One started showing slight signs of a niacin deficiency one day so I switched them to a feed with more niacin and started supplementing with vitamins/niacin in their water. It has been over a week since I started supplementing them and the one has gotten worse. It cannot stand, does not move, eat or drink, and seems to be weezing. Help please!

 

[AlohaDuck]

I'd like to add: MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT GIVING THEM THE TIME RELEASE TYPE OF NIACIN.