Disabled Duck

[vdunkin]

Need advise ... one leg is twisted with the foot curled in and the other goes out to the side. I have been feeding Purina "Flock Raiser" and started giving vitamins a few days ago. She's a happy duck, can stand for a few seconds at a time, and eats and drinks. I put her in the pool for short amount of supervised time but she swims in circles with the foot that goes out to the side coming out of the water. She like to exercise her wings but I'm not sure if she'll be able to fly when her wing feathers are fully developed. Any ideas?

 

[Orca5094]

Looks like some bad genetics, which you can't really fix. That is quite unfortunate. :/

 

[Amiga]

There is a poultry podiatry site with some suggestions for how you might help - I think some kind of a sling arrangement might work. Duckyfromoz has had special needs ducks, you might PM her.

 

[mournlight]

I had one with a curled foot. It appeared to happen due to it taking too long to get out of the egg - it was the last of 18 to hatch. It is one time I should have helped it out of the egg, I think. I did therapy on its foot on a regular basis by literally doing gentle stretching with the foot, and putting it flat on the floor and helping it stand on it. I also just held the toes straight while I held the duckling. I did this four times a day, at least. I also made sure it swam as often as possible in warm water. It took about four weeks, but it straightened out and walks fine now. I tried splinting it, but couldn't ever make that work. It is now a 3 year old duck. It is only what worked for me.

 

[vdunkin]

I've previously been on the poultry podiatry site and tried a few things. When I tie the legs so they don't split apart so far, she gets them behind her and then can't get up. I've used a corn pad to flatten out the foot, but then she can't move around at all. I tried a sling, but she squirms her way out and ends up flipping over backwards with the twisted leg caught in the sling. I just wish I was an orthopedic specialist. Her sister has been preening her as she isn't able to get herself completely clean or at least as clean as her sister thinks she should be