Duck with deformed legs!

Do you know how old the duckling is? A picture would be helpful. Can it walk some or get around? You could try spreading the foot straight across a piece of cardboard and taping it. Almost like a little shoe. I have one the same way right now. It just hatched on Friday and is doing well. Here's a link to my thread about him If it might be helpful. I've gotten some great advice there. Maybe @Isaac 0 could help you, he has given me wonderful advice on the subject
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/is-this-a-bruise-call-duck-egg-day-25.1420885/
Here's a picture off the internet of the cardboard bootie. In the 4th picture. The top 3 are of mine's leg. @Miss Lydia had a wonderful post on the subject. Here's the link. :)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/16668583/
I tried taping the feet with just normal clear cella tape I’m not sure if I should use a different kind of tape and maybe something a bit more waterproof. it didn’t use its feet to move around it used its legs and it can’t stand up with its legs. I think the legs might be deformed as well but I’m not quite sure. The feet still curled backwards and the tape ended up just getting messed up so I took it off.
this is what it’s feet look like.
3F244CDF-7427-4653-80D0-896BF4A5F531.jpeg
2EAE7C4A-D956-40DC-8315-CFA2B2CE14AA.jpeg
 
Do you have a picture of your tape job? Do all her joints bend properly, at the base of her feet, and the hock joint?

duck12.jpg


The accumulation of feces around her vent area needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. You need to get a warm damp towel and gently try to loosen the poop up so her vent area is clear. Type up "pasty butt" and you will find more information.
 
I second the sticky tape if it! I did it with one of mine hatched curled
I tried taping the feet with just normal clear cella tape I’m not sure if I should use a different kind of tape and maybe something a bit more waterproof. it didn’t use its feet to move around it used its legs and it can’t stand up with its legs. I think the legs might be deformed as well but I’m not quite sure. The feet still curled backwards and the tape ended up just getting messed up so I took it off.
this is what it’s feet look like.View attachment 2370179View attachment 2370180
As long as the joints are able to move it is fixable if you fix it right away. I had a duckling hatch with curled toe to the point she could only flop around. This is what I did:

-Kept her feet booted with painters tape as Issac 0 suggested. Painters tape comes off easily enough that it doesn't tear skin, but is still stiff enough to do the job. It's also wide enough to fully lay the webs flat and spread without bunching the foot up which is very important considering how fast ducklings grow. If the feet are splinted wrong with the tape you could end up creating a new problem. I really wouldn't use any other type of tape.

- I kept her separated in a small clear tote with food/water right next to her, her own heat plate, and a towel for bedding to keep her from slipping. I also kept her in sight of the other ducklings to avoid stress, but she was still separated to avoid trampling.

-Fed her scrambled eggs with her duckling crumble along with added niacin.

- Provided two small water sources. One with plain fresh water and the other with save-a-chick electrolyte mix.

It took only 3 days of her therapy and being booted before she was able to be placed back with the other ducklings. She is now an adult with no leg issues now and the fastest one in my flock!
 
Do you have a picture of your tape job? Do all her joints bend properly, at the base of her feet, and the hock joint?

View attachment 2370221


The accumulation of feces around her vent area needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. You need to get a warm damp towel and gently try to loosen the poop up so her vent area is clear. Type up "pasty butt" and you will find more information.
Do you have a picture of your tape job? Do all her joints bend properly, at the base of her feet, and the hock joint?

View attachment 2370221

The accumulation of feces around her vent area needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. You need to get a warm damp towel and gently try to loosen the poop up so her vent area is clear. Type up "pasty butt" and you will find more information.
I cleaned her butt today I hope I did an ok job. I also made it some scrambled eggs but the ducks not eating as much as I thought it would. I’ve asked my mum to by stuff like brewers yeast, niacin, B vitamin complex and some painters tape but she isn’t going to buy any of it. I haven’t got any of the stuff people have been recommending and I’m not sure if I can do enough for the duck. She walks around on her hock joint and she
image.jpg
image.jpg
can’t stand up even when she has the tape on her feet( which I have taken off because the tape isn’t the right kind I need). I don’t think her joints bend properly and I’ve been reading about similar problems that say it has to do with niacin defiency and problems with the tendons. I also read that they can scrap and get callouses on their hock joints.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    221.9 KB · Views: 3
I cleaned her butt today I hope I did an ok job. I also made it some scrambled eggs but the ducks not eating as much as I thought it would. I’ve asked my mum to by stuff like brewers yeast, niacin, B vitamin complex and some painters tape but she isn’t going to buy any of it. I haven’t got any of the stuff people have been recommending and I’m not sure if I can do enough for the duck. She walks around on her hock joint and she View attachment 2371347View attachment 2371348can’t stand up even when she has the tape on her feet( which I have taken off because the tape isn’t the right kind I need). I don’t think her joints bend properly and I’ve been reading about similar problems that say it has to do with niacin defiency and problems with the tendons. I also read that they can scrap and get callouses on their hock joints.

Would you be willing to give her up to a local wildlife rehabber? Not to be blunt, but since you're unable to provide her with some of the things she needs, it may be best to give her to someone who can. Not to mention this is a wild duckling, and if you're in the US, under the migratory bird treaty act it's illegal to possess a migratory bird. If you give us your general location we can find someone you can bring her to, so she can be assessed properly.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom