Duck with leg injury help!

[TracyLovesDucks]

I ended up inspecting her before I got your recommendations, Amiga. So I felt for heat, compared the legs, and checked the bottoms of her feet. I didn't compare how the joints moved. The temperature was consistent on both legs, no unusually hot spots. Then on the bottom of her foot, I thought I found something... one of the little tiny scaley-like things was a little yellow in color and stood out to me. But on second thought, I think it was just a... what shall we call it... beauty mark? But I ended up giving her an epsom salt compress for as long as she could take (I feel like a fool though, because at the time I thought for sure it was the bottom of her foot so I only kept the compress there... whereas I should have wrapped it around her entire leg

).

She is worse off today, wanting to lay down more frequently and trying to balance on one leg when she is standing still. So I'm afraid that my treatment last night did not benefit her... it may have even made it worse because she doesn't like to be caught and held by us. I don't know what to do. I have the urge to put her little leggies into an epsom salt bath, then give her some swim time in a deeper pool by herself... but I'm afraid the stress it causes her could make her leg even worse. Any advice?

 

[Amiga]

You need to go with your gut. She may seem up for it tomorrow, or not. Try it, give it a rest the next day.

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

Ok thanks Amiga.

And I also have another question. If her leg is even worse tomorrow, I've been thinking about kenneling her. If I do, would it be better to cage her off in the yard with the other ducks (it's about 20 feet x 30 feet) or get her inside alone?

Obviously, the point would be to keep her off her feet, so she doesn't have to run around with the others and so that I can put her food and water right in front of her for easy access and to prevent the others from bumping into her. I just don't know which would cause more stress... being all alone and not seeing her friends, or seeing her friends and not being able to be with them. Probably another gut call, but I just wanted to check with everyone.

 

[Amiga]

Some of that will be up to her. When I had to keep Zehn separated overnight because she was on medication and I did not want her to start laying her eggs with the others (I doubted she would, but . . . ) I put the Limousine right in the night pen with everybody else. By the second night, I just had to tell her it was time for her special night-night (there was food and water in the Limousine), and she would easily go in and settle down. I left it in the pen, the other ducks would wander in and out of it, but at bedtime they would leave, she would go in and all seemed well.

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

Well I just put her in a cage that I set up in the duck yard. I put her sister in there with her. I was planning on giving her an epsom salt soak tonight and a therapeutic swim... but gosh is it traumatic when I handle her. When I have to bring her out of the cage, I think I will start off by giving her some peas.

When I try to catch her, they all trample one another, dang it. I feel like it's just making matters worse, but I know she will benefit greatly from being kept in a small enclosed area. Duck mothering is tough.

I intentionally spent less time bonding with this younger group, which is why they are so afraid of being handled. I did that for two reasons, 1. so that they would imprint on the older group instead of me, and 2. so that I wouldn't become so darned attached to them if they were to get sick, hurt or die (with my older ones, I nearly have a panic attack when something's wrong. With the younger group, I am observant and concerned when I know something's wrong, but it doesn't necessarily keep me up at night). Now I know that it would have been way better to have spent more time with this younger group.

 

[tomynoks]

I have a 3wk old runner that somehow injured its leg today. He/she is one of 5 along with the Mama duck, 2 8 weeks olds and an adult drake. The foot looks slightly deformed, as the center "toe" is crooked to the outside. I tried to gently rearrange it, but to no avail. the duckling didnt seem to feel any pain as I did this though....he/she doesn;t put much much weight on it and sits more than anything tonight. I;ve got some good ideas from this forum, but i;m new to ducks and really worried about her/him. the big question.... should I separate her/him from the others for a day or two?? Going to buy epsom salt and niacin now...

Thanks in advance for any help...


Tom Smith

 

[tomynoks]

I have a 3wk old runner that somehow injured its leg today. He/she is one of 5 along with the Mama duck, 2 8 weeks olds and an adult drake. The foot looks slightly deformed, as the center "toe" is crooked to the outside. I tried to gently rearrange it, but to no avail. the duckling didnt seem to feel any pain as I did this though....he/she doesn't put much much weight on it and sits more than anything tonight. I;ve got some good ideas from this forum, but i;m new to ducks and really worried about her/him. the big question.... should I separate her/him from the others for a day or two?? Going to buy epsom salt and niacin now...

Thanks in advance for any help...


Tom Smith