Duck is limping

[DuckyBabies]

My pekin drake has been hobbling around on his leg the past few days. I thought if he rested and took it easy that it might get better, but it still hasn’t. He won’t let me pick him up to examine him, but while I was giving him a snack I noticed some black on his leg. I am totally unaware if it is just dirt caked on or possibly frostbite. It was cold in TN this past week, but he’s been in the coop with hay more than on the ground. Does anyone know what else it could be? It doesn’t affect him walking to bad. He will still run down the hill in the morning and walk around the yard without it seeming like it’s hurting him.

 

[Miss Lydia]

First of all you need to walk him inside of his shelter so you can pick him up and examine his leg and foot he may have bumble foot which is an infection and that will need to be treated. Giving him a good soak to clean off the leg will help determine if what is on his leg is something to be concerned about or is mud dirt or poop. Pics of both feet and cleaned up leg will help.

 

[DuckyBabies]

First of all you need to walk him inside of his shelter so you can pick him up and examine his leg and foot he may have bumble foot which is an infection and that will need to be treated. Giving him a good soak to clean off the leg will help determine if what is on his leg is something to be concerned about or is mud dirt or poop. Pics of both feet and cleaned up leg will help.

Thank you for replying! I will attempt to catch him and clean the leg, although I imagine he isn’t going to like me for it. How would I know for sure if it’s bumblefoot? Is there something I should be feeling or looking for?

 

[chickens really]

Dry blood will look black too. Anything he could of gotten his leg caught on? Good luck catching him.

 

[DuckyBabies]

Dry blood will look black too. Anything he could of gotten his leg caught on? Good luck catching him.

My dog has dug a lot of holes in our yard, so I thought he may have just fumbled into a hole. Other than that, he hasn’t been in the woods, so I don’t think there is anything he could snag it on, but they do love to be michevious!

 

[DuckyBabies]

I got a picture of his bad and good foot. I will have to catch him either later today, or tomorrow. It is just me and the kids today so I can’t leave them in the house by themselves while I attempt to catch him.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Might be some swelling on the one leg where the black is once you can get help to catch him post a pic of both legs side by side. And he may not be happy being caught but your trying to help him he’ll get over it. As for bumble foot there is usually swelling on the foot where the bumble is and most times a blk scab. It can be painful to walk on Which can cause limping . Just better to really check him out good so you can rule that out.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Just some help on catching ducks that don't want to be caught. Herd them slowly rather than running after them. This will scare them less. Get them to someplace where they are cornered. If they try to dodge around you in one direction, you can often extend a hand in the same direction and cause them to double back in toward you. Once you are in range, grab them quickly by the neck. It makes a great handle. Don't choke them or lift them. Just barely hold them. You can then guide both hands around their sides and hold them by the sides while controlling their wings. If you do this frequently, many ducks will see the inevitability of getting picked up and will stop running away: they might take one or two token steps away but will pretty much let you pick them up by the sides without having to "catch" them by the neck first. At least half of my ducks will just let me pick them up with token or no evasion. The others will still flee, but they do it calmly and aren't too hard to catch.

 

[DuckyBabies]

He is ridiculously hard to catch. When I do actually catch him, he loves to either try to bite me or especially loves trying to get his wings free so he can flap me to death! So much spunk in this one. I think I am going to wait on my husband to help me!

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Pekins are very strong and Drakes are even stronger, so the combination can be tough. My wife could catch and restrain our Pekins, but couldn't hold them because they could always wiggle their wings free and flap her in the head. She also has a hard time holding our Rouen drake - he is pretty strong. I have never had one of my ducks try to bite me so I don't know what to do there. One bit my wife, but only when we were performing foot surgery on it. Otherwise friendly little nibbles only.