Can anyone help me with my duckling?

[EJPedrazzi]

I got her last Wednesday and she was absolutely fine for a couple of days. On Saturday I noticed her left eye looked a bit wet around it but I'm not sure if that's actually a problem or just how her eye is. On Sunday morning though, she was wobbly and her right leg is splayed out to the side and she can't seem to get it up under herself to walk. Panicking, I googled a bunch of different things and assumed it was 'New Duck Disease' so started her on antibiotics (oxytetracycline hcl, 1 tsp per gallon of water, changed every day) but this doesn't seem to have had any effect.
Yesterday I did some more research and came across niacin deficiency in ducks. She's on natural broiler / starter crumbles (like other ducks I've raised who've been fine) but yesterday since I didn't have any niacin supplement I sprinkled some rice bran onto her food to increase her intake of niacin. I know it's only been a day but I worry about her as she's not the same - she can't walk around. She's able to stand for a short minute but then lays back down and sort of maneuvers around on it like a penguin on it's belly with her leg out to the side and pushes herself along.

She's eating and drinking fine and seems chirpy and happy in herself, she just can't get around as she should be. I'm still not sure if it is niacin deficiency as it's just the one leg.

I was wondering if it was broken or sprained as my husband did drop her, but that was a couple of days before her leg got bad and she was walking around on it fine after that. And when I hold her I can move her leg around 'normally' ie. it has the same mobility as the other one.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be? Or how I could help her? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks

Emily, and Hazel

 

[EJPedrazzi]

Also, if it is niacin deficiency, does anyone know how long it will take after she's been getting supplements until she starts to show signs of improvement?

 

[buttonquailchic]

I don't think it's a deficiency. I think she developed a limp leg, or possibly even hurt it somehow- maybe when you weren't watching for a minute, she got it caught under something like a food dish but managed to free herself. I had a quail chick that developed a limp leg. Your duckling may grow out of it, or it just may be a disability that sticks with her the rest of her life. My chick grew out of it, so I don't see why yours can't if that's the issue. Try exercising her leg, maybe stretch it a little, massage it and get the blood flow going. I wish you lots of luck with your adorable little duckling!

 

[EJPedrazzi]

Thank you for your reply. I really hope she gets better. She's chirpy and eating and drinking as normal and loves her cuddles. I'm increasing her niacin just to be on the safe side and will keep her on it until she's about 10 weeks old. I'm about to give her a bath so she can use her leg then will sit and do some 'rehab' with her this evening - moving it and massaging it as you said. Fingers crossed!

 

[buttonquailchic]

Fingers crossed indeed! Good luck! I hope she gets better soon! And the supplement is a good idea- it can't hurt, so why not?

 

[buttonquailchic]

So how's the baby doing? is her leg better?