Cayuga Duck Leg Problems

[AllyDan26]

Hi Everyone,

My Cayuga duck is just a little over two years old,He stays in the house.He doesn’t like going outside.He takes 3 30 mins to an hour long showers a day.Over the last year he has what seems to be leg cramps.He will get them for a few weeks then they will suddenly stop and he will be fine for a month or two.In the last 2 weeks they have been worse he will be fine during the day and around dark they will start bothering him causing him to lose his balance and fall down.His legs will cramp up & he will struggle for a min then he gets back up and acts fine.I haven’t found a vet yet in my area that knows about waterfowl.I put niacin in his water and other than his legs he is happy and loves to play(He is a Daddy’s boy)Could this be arthritis? I do have trouble getting him to eat Different foods as he is a picky eater and sunflower seeds are his favorite.I’m worried sick over him and feel so helpless when his legs act up.I can tell they hurt.Any Advice is much appreciated.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a precious duck. I’ve never heard of ducks getting leg cramps but I am sure it’s possible. Does he get much exercise like swimming in a nice tub of warm water? One of the best way to keep leg muscles healthy. Outside exercise too. Even if dad has to walk around with him . Another thing is liquid b complex it has all the bs and we’ve found it helps much better with leg issues. TSC has one brand name Durvet usually in cattle dept and will say injectable but we give it orally 1 ml daily over a tasty treat like his sunflower seeds. Your going to have to use some tough love with him and start putting down some feed try duck pellets most TSC carry it now just use the sunflower seeds to give the b complex and just enough he gets his meds in him. Sunflower seeds are great for snack but he needs a balanced diet and maybe some chopped up greens like romaine in a bowl of water.? I wouldn’t think at 2 yrs he wouldn’t have arthritis not saying it’s impossible but I’d try the recommendations here first and see how he is doing. Hopefully they will get him doing well and no more leg issues. Please check back and give updates.​

 

[DuckyDonna]

I know that in humans leg cramps are usually caused by lack of potassium in the diet. @casportpony is that possible in ducks too?

I used to have terrible leg cramps and they are very painful. As soon as I started on potassium pills they've all but stopped.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Look at that pampered little fella. Best wishes in finding information on how to help him!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sunflower seeds 1 cup has 903mgs of potassium in it .

 

[AllyDan26]

Thank you.I’ll try all that you suggested & update.He is kinda lazy and that’s our fault for pampering him so much.I had a Mallard that lived to be 14 she was also in the house but she was not lazy and she loved to go outside.She kept everyone in line lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Seems to be jest of differences between drakes and females my females are just about always foraging my drakes will go along but they are mostly look outs.All except my Muscovy drake that dude is extremely lazy!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I know that in humans leg cramps are usually caused by lack of potassium in the diet. @casportpony is that possible in ducks too?

I used to have terrible leg cramps and they are very painful. As soon as I started on potassium pills they've all but stopped.

Magnesium! Not Potassium. During the summer months when i work outside i sweat a lot, really a LOT! And i have to take a Magnesium supply or i will suffer from muscle cramps, mostly in my legs (calfs!).
Now i'm not sure if the same applies to ducks, but a little extra Magnesium won't do any harm.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Seems to be jest of differences between drakes and females my females are just about always foraging my drakes will go along but they are mostly look outs.All except my Muscovy drake that dude is extremely lazy!

Being the look-out is the drake's main job, that's why i have drakes. They don't need as much food as the ducks because they don't have to push out 3-4% of their body weight every day in protein-rich, calcium-covered balls, called eggs.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Or calcium prisons for tiny ducklings....