Duck Foot Problems

[NEduckgirl]

Does anyone else deal with chronic foot problems with their ducks? I have a mixed flock of eight ducks - five 3 month olds and three 15 month olds. They are allowed to free range in the backyard and garden during the day for several hours and are locked up in a pen at night and when my dogs are outside. They are constantly getting foot scratches and cuts that if not monitored closely and treated with Bacitracin cream turn to bumblefoot quickly. They are on grass and dirt mostly when free ranging and I have them on a soft bedding that is a mix of straw and fine wood shavings. I check their feet every day for injuries and it seems like one of them is always getting a bad scrape. Usually they don't limp until it gets really bad, so I'm trying to be proactive and catch any injury before it gets infected. Any ideas on what else I can do to prevent them from getting foot injuries? Or is this just par for the course of raising ducks?

 

[Speceider]

Try supplementing with vitamin A. Data suggests hypovitaminosis A contributes to bumble foot.

Clint

 

[NEduckgirl]

Do you know where I can order a vitamin A supplement for waterfowl? Or will simply adding vitamin A rich treats like carrots, kale or squash be enough?

 

[Speceider]

I would probably look at getting g vit a capsules and add it to the food. I would not rely on foods because they may not eat enough to up the vit A.


Clint

 

[Miss Lydia]

I would probably look at getting g vit a capsules and add it to the food. I would not rely on foods because they may not eat enough to up the vit A.


Clint

How much Vit A isn't A one you have to be careful not to OD on? What about a good poultry Vitamin would it have enough Vit A or any Vitamin A?

 

[Speceider]

Because vit A is a fat-soluble vitamin it is stored in the body, so, yes hypervitamenosis is possible. The NRC requirement is 4000 IU, and the recommended total allowance is 10,000 IU. So anything that would up it to about 8000 IU should help. I don't know how much vit A is in the multivitamens or the form. Ducks are poor at utizing carotene as a vit A precursor, so true vit A is needed.

Clint