duck with leg that won't straighten

[kinnip]

It was only hatched an hour ago. It has one leg that is still retracted. It's using its hock to get around. Should I put it down now, or wait to see if it will straighten out?

 

[kinnip]

please, please help me out before the BF gets home. He won't let me put it down if it needs it.

 

[petitesphinx]

Goodness, I don't know.

I do have 2 chicks ( 6 weeks old ) that I rescued from a meat house and one of their legs is bent almost backwards--very painful looking and strange. BUT..but, they are fat, healthy looking, don't cry and just hobble around on it. They 'seem' fine, other than looking gastly. I didn't put them down because their weight is great and they eat/drink ok. I'll just keep them in a crate so the others don't pick on them, and maybe they'll make it.

Let your little guy try life out..he might surprise you!!


I'll upload pics of the weird leg chicks in a bit and show you...

 

[Chickie Mamma]

I had a duckling that hatched yesterday. Its legs did not look right either. It straightened overnight. So I would wait to see. Their legs are sooo crushed in the eggs before hatching, it sometimes just takes a little extra time..

 

[petitesphinx]

Here's the chicks at 6 weeks

 

[DuckLady]

Can you post a pic? Sometimes if you gently straighten the leg into a proper position the tendon will pop back. It sounds like a slipped tendon.

But a good clear pic may help.

 

[kinnip]

Thanks folks. I had to go take care of a horse. This is the best pic I could get. What do you think?

I'm not willing to keep him if it doesn't straighten up. I learned that lesson the hard way. My crippled guinea found a way to die on her own, and it wasn't as kind as what I had planned.

 

[chickygirl2]

Can you tape/splint it in the correct position? Usually corrections need to be done asap after hatching. I would tape it and put the little guy in a small container - like a country crock butter container with padding on the sides. Give it a few days and see how he does.

 

[kinnip]

I've been trying to straighten it with no luck. It's tight. I don't want to just muscle it down, or do I?

 

[chickygirl2]

I found this post when I googled the subject.

http://www.voy.com/194762/

You might also pm Diana[ dunicorn], as i bet she might know