Diary & Notes ~ Air Cell Detatched SHIPPED Chicken Eggs for incubation and hatching

[cochins1088]

OMG I can finally find the tendon! I think the antibotics and pain meds took down some of the swelling. Darn it all it is probably too late.
It is along the inside of the hock joint.
I am SOooo making drawings of this for us visual people so we can "see" this condition. It will be part of my warmup for art class today.
I have looked and looked for it online - I'm sure it's out there, but it will help me emotionally to draw it out. At least her pain and suffering will help others.
I managed to massage the tendon a bit and it just won't go up over the joint, so I splinted it totally straight with a stiff part of a plastic fork (all padded etc), maybe it will stretch out a bit more and maybe I can get it in place later. She has a little open wound on her hock which was what was infected, maybe from a feather getting stuck not being able to come out from previous bandaging. This is a real disadvantage to feather legged/footed babies, she has pin feathers coming in all over her leg now.
It will be a miracle if she survives my treatment, I'm surprised the stress didn't kill her already.

That is great that you found it! Like I said, it will be really painful for her, but if you can somehow massage the tendon into place (it will be tough) it can save her from a lot of troubles later on. Also, if you do get it in place, her leg will need to be straight for over week. Since it's been slipped for so long, it will take longer for a groove to form.

If you honestly can't get in place no matter how hard you try, I would stop splinting it and let her adapt to using it how it is.

It will be tough, but there is still hope that she can live a normal life.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I'm at 20 1/2 days (lol) with an external pip, more chirping, and a newbie sitting on her hands impatiently!!!! But I keep going out to spend time with Gertrude and Sally, my 4 1/2 month old girls so they don't get jealous!

. One is a Buff Orpington and the other ia a Barred Rock.

I picked up my chick started, probiotics and electrolyte for the babies. I still need to get some antibiotic cream with no painkiller for my chick first aid kit.

awesome!! come on peeps!

 

[cochins1088]

ugg.. I just went out to give my ducklings more water (they are always running out) and I noticed that one of them can't walk. He was fine this morning and I have no idea what happened. He was getting trampled by the others so I brought him in and cleaned him up. He's 4 weeks old and huge so there no way my parents will let him stay in the house.

Right now he's drying off in a towel in my arms, I'm not sure what I should do with him. I have 2 hours left before dad gets home.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

ugg.. I just went out to give my ducklings more water (they are always running out) and I noticed that one of them can't walk. He was fine this morning and I have no idea what happened. He was getting trampled by the others so I brought him in and cleaned him up. He's 4 weeks old and huge so there no way my parents will let him stay in the house.

Right now he's drying off in a towel in my arms, I'm not sure what I should do with him. I have 2 hours left before dad gets home.

have you been adding niacin or brewers yeast?

 

[ozexpat]

Niacin? Por Que?

 

[cochins1088]

have you been adding niacin or brewers yeast?

No.. I checked two stores and both of them only had the wrong kinds. Then I read a few threads with many people saying that they've raised ducklings for years without problems, so I figured they'd be fine. I'm almost sure that it's a niacin problem... I'll go check the drug store. A friend of mine offered to take him in until he's able to walk again.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Niacin? Por Que?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/duckling-care-brooder-ideas

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FEEDING YOUR DUCKLINGS

Flock Raiser

SunFresh

Recipe
A 20%-protein nutrient-rich ration that provides top starting, growing and finishing nutrition for a
mixed flock of chickens, ducks and geese from hatch until laying age (18-20 weeks)

Ducklings require a diet of 20-22% in the form of non-medicated starter mash or crumbles for the first 3 weeks. It is very important that it is non-medicated feed as organ damage can occur if a medicated chick starter is used for ducks. Too little protein can cause nutritional deficiencies and serious health problems. Too much protein can cause a condition called "Angel Wing" where the feathers on the wings protrude upwards.
The protein content of their feed can be reduced to 17-18% at 3 weeks.
Article about treating Angel Wing: Angel Wing Summary​

WHEN USING UNMEDICATED CHICK STARTER/GROWER FEED:
These feeds are formulated for chickens which have lower niacin requirements than ducks, therefore supplemental niacin should be given either in water or feed. 100 mg of niacin dissolved in a gallon of water from 0-8 weeks while being fed chick starter/grower. Niacin is available in tablet or powder from drugstores. HIGH levels of niacin CAN BE TOXIC so don’t exceed dosages. Brewer's yeast is a good safe source of niacin. 70mg diet recommended for starting and for growing/finishing ducks. Ducks and turkeys with a niacin deficiency show a severe bowing of the legs and an enlargement of the hock joint.

Please refer Niacin Deficiency Information for more information and treatments.


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[Sally Sunshine]

cochins My little blackberry got weaklegged the first two weeks until I started the niacin, she would walk and then have to lay day after a few steps.

 

[cochins1088]

I went to the local drug store and they had 14 different kinds of Niacin!

and 13 of those were flush free or time release. The last one was niacinamide. I'm doing some research on it now. Mezter farms uses it, so I think it's safe but I need to figure out the dosing.

It came on really suddenly with this little duck. He went from running around in the morning, to not even able to stand but he's very active and seems healthy. He just has super weak legs.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

3 out and 16+? pips