Duck --- Broken Femur

[cuysaurus]

This is here current space. Left side is her "bed" made with some straw. On the right side is her water and food. Whenever I find her on the left or right side she is sitting. On the right side, some times she stands, stretch her wings and groom herself.
Should I put her on her wheel chair and make her use only one leg and prevent her from getting off the chair?

 

[alinas2010]

I'm glad we have first hand experience of a complete femur fracture healing, @Jenbirdee.

That femur needs immobilizing --important for the next few weeks until it has developed callus to hold the bone together, and then for a further 3 weeks until the bone has knitted together from the two sides.

It maybe that using vet wrap is all you can do -- splinting the femur would be difficult. But if you can wrap vet wrap round the thigh and then wrap the thigh in anatomical position against the body [as if the duck were sitting] that would be better than nothing, which depends on the duck voluntarily remaining immobile. Keep her quiet and warm in your house -- in a pet carrier when you aren't with her during the first three weeks. She could sit in a ducky princess bed or on a ducky wheelchair when you are with her, but don't hang the broken leg through the hole in the wheelchair sling for the first 3 weeks. AND after that be extra careful putting the injured leg through the hole if you do put that leg through

She should not swim for the first three weeks. Even if her feathers get pooped on, that femur needs to be immobile. View attachment 4031039View attachment 4031040View attachment 4031041View attachment 4031042

The first image is of a duck confined to a cardboard box inside a clear tote [the tote is to stop him trying to stand up

The second is the same duck in his "princess" bed. Both of these set ups have the disadvantage of the duck sitting in poop

The third image is two or three weeks later swimming in the tote. It's deep enough for the duck to swim [which wading pools aren't] but he didn't use his left leg.

The fourth image is of the duck in a ducky wheelchair which let his good leg hang down and had a midline split at the back so that the poop fell down on a puppy pad below. This was by far the most hygienic set up but is only good if the duck doesn't try and stand up and get out. My little one had stopped using both legs by the time he got his wheelchair [it turned out he had a pelvic tumor pressing on nerves but I didn't know that for certain until he died 6 months later, and the tumor was visible by his vent.]

So thankful to have such helpful people like you and @Jenbirdee here! These visuals are so great, thank you for responding and the advice @ruthhope.

I thank you all for your replies! There is hope!

She drinks and eats like nothing has happened. She currently is in my house with her own space. She has a clean bed. She doesn't even poop on it. She takes some few steps in order to get food and water. She poops in the way between her bed and her food. Now, I should prevent her walking (not even use a wheel chair) for at least 3 weeks.

Please, correct me.

I think that the idea is definitely to limit her walking and trying to use her leg for at least a full 3 week. For sure it sounds like you should not let her use the wheelchair for a full 3 weeks at least. It sounds like doing so could misplace her bones even more and prevent healing. It looks like you have a nice set up for her, let’s see what the others have for further advice on her healing journey and the set up/wheel chair use

 

[cuysaurus]

Yes. I feel like I if I do something I could misplace her bones even more and prevent healing. I do not want to touch her.

 

[Jenbirdee]

So thankful to have such helpful people like you and @Jenbirdee here! These visuals are so great, thank you for responding and the advice @ruthhope.

I think that the idea is definitely to limit her walking and trying to use her leg for at least a full 3 week. For sure it sounds like you should not let her use the wheelchair for a full 3 weeks at least. It sounds like doing so could misplace her bones even more and prevent healing. It looks like you have a nice set up for her, let’s see what the others have for further advice on her healing journey and the set up/wheel chair use

I did not use any splint or immobilize device except for a large dog crate she was in with her little food and water bowls . She had towels and pine chips and I even brought her sister in to be with her overnights in the crate. I also gave bathtub time after the first two weeks. She just didn’t use the leg, so ‘self immobilization’ I guess.
Edit to add: the pain meds from the vet made her sleepy so I guess that’s partly why she didn’t move around much. But I had to hold her and tube feed her and medicate her three times a day . She would not eat anything on her own for the first 3 to 4 weeks. After six weeks, she was back out with the flock, walking with a slight limp, and after another few weeks she was running.