Call Duck Limp

[lizardboy55]

Hello All,

It's been very cold here in norther NJ, around the 20s as highs and single digits at night. I realized all my chickens are doing fine, but all my call ducks seem to have a limp. It seems to be that they limp when it is cold out. I've brought them inside and their limp seems to slowly fade as they adjust to the warmth but once they're out in the cold for a few hours their limp comes back. Does anyone know what could be causing this? Their all cleaning themselves and when I bring them inside for a bath they go right to playing and having a good time so I think they are healthy. This is my second winter with them and I haven't had this happen yet. I just want to make sure their okay and the blood is circulating correctly.

Please let me know what you all think!

Thank You,
Matt

 

[sourland]

@Ravynscroft, may have an answer for you. I think I read somewhere that ducks have a mechanism for restricting blood flow to their feet in the extreme cold?

 

[lizardboy55]

UPDATE: I've been watching them all day. It seems as if once their sitting for a while and then get up they have a limp, almost like their foot fell asleep. Once they're up for a few minutes it seems to dissipate. Could that just be it? A num foot from sitting on it too long?

 

[Ravynscroft]

Yup, mine do that too... more often the colder it gets... just keep an eye out for a worse limp indicating injury, but I wouldn't worry if it's just after they have been sitting for a while... I have had ones stand on one leg and it's like they forget the leg is pulled up and try to walk, lol...