Broken femur- in my pekin

[Here come the ducks]

Hi everyone... ugh I’m exhausted... my buff had an aspiration pneumonia two weeks ago- and now as I took one of my pekin ducks to the vet yesterday bc she was limping - the other 6 month old pekin had somehow broken her femur! When I got back home she was not moving - took her to the vet - they say that bc she is producing eggs so fast her calcium is going to the eggs and leaving her bones set up for this ... pekin ducks from what I’m learning we’re not at all meant to live and thrive - the breeding is for fast and big- and the vet tells me it is hard on them ( and us) when they live as pets, so sad.
I have to tell you.. I feel like I am crazy.. or a horrible mom. I try so so so hard - is this normal ?? Are ducks so very prone to everything on the planet?

I can’t imagine how she broke that leg if it was not a fracture from calcium going towards eggs-

Now I’m waiting for an orthopedic surgeon to be able to pin her leg !!!
This is getting so so expensive- last week the buff in ICU for days - now this .
They started her on implants to keep her from producing eggs so that the calcium will go all towards new bone growth .. meanwhile they have her something to make sure she laid the egg that was in her last night’s - the egg was gigantic !! Poor thing had to lay this with a broken leg! ugh
I hope she is ok.

 

[casportpony]

Lots of hugs for you!

 

[Here come the ducks]

Thanks..
Ok... they called- I’m off the the surgeon... send Samarra love and prayers for her surgery.
Thank you!!

 

[casportpony]

Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[Ratchnick]

Good luck. I always tell people not to get pekins as pets. Hope your ducks make it.

 

[KaleIAm]

Hi everyone... ugh I’m exhausted... my buff had an aspiration pneumonia two weeks ago- and now as I took one of my pekin ducks to the vet yesterday bc she was limping - the other 6 month old pekin had somehow broken her femur! When I got back home she was not moving - took her to the vet - they say that bc she is producing eggs so fast her calcium is going to the eggs and leaving her bones set up for this ... pekin ducks from what I’m learning we’re not at all meant to live and thrive - the breeding is for fast and big- and the vet tells me it is hard on them ( and us) when they live as pets, so sad.
I have to tell you.. I feel like I am crazy.. or a horrible mom. I try so so so hard - is this normal ?? Are ducks so very prone to everything on the planet?

I can’t imagine how she broke that leg if it was not a fracture from calcium going towards eggs-

Now I’m waiting for an orthopedic surgeon to be able to pin her leg !!!
This is getting so so expensive- last week the buff in ICU for days - now this .
They started her on implants to keep her from producing eggs so that the calcium will go all towards new bone growth .. meanwhile they have her something to make sure she laid the egg that was in her last night’s - the egg was gigantic !! Poor thing had to lay this with a broken leg! ugh
I hope she is ok.

I understand what you are experiencing. *hugs* My duck Gingersnap had the same thing happen to her when she was about one years old. She was even already on calcium supplements for chronic egg binding when she broke her leg. The vets explained it to me just like you said, that there wasn't enough calcium for eggshells so her body took it from her leg bones. Gingersnap also got birth control implants, and was on them for life.

The good news is that Ginger healed from her fracture very well and recovered without even a limp. But of course fractures are often different and heal differently. She was livid that she had to have cage rest for 6 weeks, but I made her do it anyway.

When I asked my vet what I was doing wrong, why my ducks were getting sick the only thing she could identify was my substrate. I changed that and did stop getting bumblefoot. But she said all the other chronic issues are due to inbreeding production animals that grow fast for meat, or produce hundreds of eggs yearly. Compared to a little mallard who weighs a couple pounds and lays 2 dozen eggs a year.

But knowing that doesn't help much, aside from change our future choices. Right now we have ducks, and they are medically fragile and we adore them and were not expecting this. It's really hard.

Yesterday my duck was at the vet getting cold laser therapy for her arthritis. I completely understand what you are going through. I'll be thinking about you and Samarra all day.

 

[Ratchnick]

I understand what you are experiencing. *hugs* My duck Gingersnap had the same thing happen to her when she was about one years old. She was even already on calcium supplements for chronic egg binding when she broke her leg. The vets explained it to me just like you said, that there wasn't enough calcium for eggshells so her body took it from her leg bones. Gingersnap also got birth control implants, and was on them for life.

The good news is that Ginger healed from her fracture very well and recovered without even a limp. But of course fractures are often different and heal differently. She was livid that she had to have cage rest for 6 weeks, but I made her do it anyway.

When I asked my vet what I was doing wrong, why my ducks were getting sick the only thing she could identify was my substrate. I changed that and did stop getting bumblefoot. But she said all the other chronic issues are due to inbreeding production animals that grow fast for meat, or produce hundreds of eggs yearly. Compared to a little mallard who weighs a couple pounds and lays 2 dozen eggs a year.

But knowing that doesn't help much, aside from change our future choices. Right now we have ducks, and they are medically fragile and we adore them and were not expecting this. It's really hard.

Yesterday my duck was at the vet getting cold laser therapy for her arthritis. I completely understand what you are going through. I'll be thinking about you and Samarra all day.

This really highlights why its important to get your ducks from the best stock possible. Genetics Is so important for health. I feel like people decide they want ducks, then decide on a breed then go buy the first one of that breed they come by. Lines within a breed can vary nearly as much as different breeds. More skilled breeders will breed for health and vitality first. Often they wont breed a duck until it is 3 years old, this helps to breed out the chronic issues. Unfortunately there are lots of hobbyists who dont know better and big companies that cant afford to feed a duck for 3 years before they breed it.

 

[KaleIAm]

This really highlights why its important to get your ducks from the best stock possible. Genetics Is so important for health. I feel like people decide they want ducks, then decide on a breed then go buy the first one of that breed they come by. Lines within a breed can vary nearly as much as different breeds. More skilled breeders will breed for health and vitality first. Often they wont breed a duck until it is 3 years old, this helps to breed out the chronic issues. Unfortunately there are lots of hobbyists who dont know better and big companies that cant afford to feed a duck for 3 years before they breed it.

I feel like the majority of hobbyists don't know better. I could read for hours on BYC and not learn this. Before I got ducks I read a lot of articles claiming that ducks were hardy and rarely got sick - nothing about, only if you get ducks with good genetics.

Personally, I would have paid hundreds per duckling for healthy birds with good genetics. I ended up adopting 4 rescues as well, and they have been the most fragile.

 

[Ratchnick]

I feel like the majority of hobbyists don't know better. I could read for hours on BYC and not learn this. Before I got ducks I read a lot of articles claiming that ducks were hardy and rarely got sick - nothing about, only if you get ducks with good genetics.

Personally, I would have paid hundreds per duckling for healthy birds with good genetics. I ended up adopting 4 rescues as well, and they have been the most fragile.

RIGHT!
All over the internet "ducks never get sick"

In reality:
Oh you didn't supplement niacin? Leg problems.

Didnt suppliment calcium? Laying problems.

Bought straight run? Overmating

There was one sharp object in your 1/4 acre field. Duck will need stiches for sure.

Used the exact bedding your friend has used for the last 10 years without issue. Bumblefoot

Oh its extra rainy this year. Bumblefoot all over.


And so much more am i right! Thanks for nothing internet!

 

[Here come the ducks]

I understand what you are experiencing. *hugs* My duck Gingersnap had the same thing happen to her when she was about one years old. She was even already on calcium supplements for chronic egg binding when she broke her leg. The vets explained it to me just like you said, that there wasn't enough calcium for eggshells so her body took it from her leg bones. Gingersnap also got birth control implants, and was on them for life.

The good news is that Ginger healed from her fracture very well and recovered without even a limp. But of course fractures are often different and heal differently. She was livid that she had to have cage rest for 6 weeks, but I made her do it anyway.

When I asked my vet what I was doing wrong, why my ducks were getting sick the only thing she could identify was my substrate. I changed that and did stop getting bumblefoot. But she said all the other chronic issues are due to inbreeding production animals that grow fast for meat, or produce hundreds of eggs yearly. Compared to a little mallard who weighs a couple pounds and lays 2 dozen eggs a year.

But knowing that doesn't help much, aside from change our future choices. Right now we have ducks, and they are medically fragile and we adore them and were not expecting this. It's really hard.

Yesterday my duck was at the vet getting cold laser therapy for her arthritis. I completely understand what you are going through. I'll be thinking about you and Samarra all day.

That is so nice that your baby healed .
My baby unfortunately did great in surgery then died two hours later and no one can say why... I am so so so heartbroken. I wish I would have just splinted her.