This is our duck, Dilly (front left). She is one of four hatch-lings who arrived five weeks ago. Her legs have not properly developed. It's as if she walks on her legs rather than just her feet. (There's a video clip here) She is so incredibly endearing to us that she will always have a home. She's a little smaller than the others and she's still got some yellow to her feathers while the others are snowy white. She tries to keep up with the others, but usually falls behind. I've worried about her being excluded and have added an extra feeding dish, but the other ducks don't seem to notice (or mind) that she's a little different. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this and what we might expect in the future with her.
my pekins had this problem and would lay down a lot since it had a hard time walking from its leg being deformed. Have you been giving yours niacin supplements? After I started to give them vitamins in their water everyday, they started to walk a little easier and they are still growing into their adult feathers but they are slowly getting better and have a new home :]
We give them the general poultry vitamin/electrolyte in their water every other week or so. This schedule was recommended by the hatchery. Is the niacin supplement different? Not included in the supplement I'm using? Should we be giving them the vitamins more often? Thanks for taking the time to reply!
So heartwarming that she's secure with you! Duckyfromoz has had some special needs ducks, and I recall her writing that thiamine deficiency was involved in one case. She writes about slipped tendon - you could do a search of the forum for that. A general guideline might be to make sure they are getting supplements (which you are doing). She may need more than the rest are getting. Perhaps you could give her some kind of treat that's fortified. If you've been feeding them chick feed, she may be sensitive to the very low (for ducklings) niacin levels, and might benefit from 100 to 150 mg per gallon of water for a few weeks. This is the level I remember from Storey's Guide (if you search the forum, I know that in the past I've looked it up but I'm going to need to run after this post). Giving her swimming opportunities can take weight off the leg and strengthen muscles. She may be able to be splinted, and so improve the situation as she continues to mature. Those are my thoughts . . . Bless you for caring for her!
